ESU enrollment declines
Thursday, September 24, 2009
While its fall semester headcount is 90 students fewer than last year, Emporia State University officials are crediting campus-wide efforts with helping minimize the decrease.
ESU reports 6,314 students on its 20th day of fall classes, the official enrollment reporting date. A drop in on-campus student headcount was offset by increases in the number of students taking classes online and at several off-campus locations, including the Metro Learning Center in Overland Park.
“Given the potential for an even greater enrollment decrease, I think we’re seeing the benefits of a collaborative approach to enrollment management on the campus,” said Dr. James Williams, associate provost for enrollment management and vice-president for strategic partnerships. “I feel the foundation is there to build on that approach,” said Williams.
“Academic departments are paying attention to recruitment and retention,” said Dr. Tes Mehring, provost and vice president for academic affairs and student life. “I think we’re seeing efforts both toward undergraduates and graduate students from the admissions and graduate offices and from the academic faculty in terms of the retention effort,” she added.
The fall enrollment picture includes some bright spots. Students new to the university – a category that includes freshmen, transfer students and new graduate students – are up 220 over last year’s count. ESU is also hosting 520 international students on the campus this fall.
Emporia State’s ethnic diversity is reflected in increases in the number of African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American students this fall.
Dr. Michael R. Lane, ESU president, also notes that the university continues to honor its scholarship commitments. “In spite of some tough economic times, we’ve worked very hard with the ESU Foundation, the deans, department chairs and faculty in awarding scholarships, making sure that every penny we can award is out there,” said Lane.
“This remains an excellent institution for a student looking to explore opportunities and receive a sound quality education that sets them well on their career path,” said Williams
nannergirl (anonymous) says...
Enrollment is declining because of the inclining tuition rate. Pure and simple.
September 24, 2009 at 7:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
finch (anonymous) says...
If that's true, nannergirl, why isn't KU's enrollment going down? Their tuition is up more than ESU's? Probably a lot more going on here than you (want to) understand...
September 24, 2009 at 8:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
According to the Kansas Board of Regents, ESU had the largest loss: 1.4 percent. KU lost 0.3 percent. All other Regents schools gained enrollment, including Fort Hays, which increased more than 11.5 percent. Wondering what Hays is doing that Emporia is not?
src: http://www.kansasregents.org/download...
September 24, 2009 at 10:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodjoss (anonymous) says...
I'm not surprised... I've not heard the most flattering comments about Dr. Lane or Dr. Williams.
The campus has a different 'feel' to it now. It's very intangible, but perceptible. Maybe it's just a different era for ESU.
Can't expect them to recruit students with declining state funding.
September 24, 2009 at 10:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
Something is definitely different, especially on campus. Looking at the KBOR information, ESU lost 204 on-campus students but gained 114 off-campus students. Apparently Lane and Williams have not got it figured out, yet.
September 24, 2009 at 10:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
Everybody's budget is declining, yet most, especially Hays, are gaining students. Perhaps it's time to get some real answers...
September 24, 2009 at 10:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hogan77 (anonymous) says...
I think the real problem is that Emporia is lacking jobs for students. Everything has been closing, and the remaining employment spots are and were probably filled when the students left at the end of last year.
Pure and simple... Lawrence and Hays both have more employment opportunities for college students. Why struggle in Emporia when you can go elsewhere?
September 24, 2009 at 11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Observation
"Emporia State’s ethnic diversity is reflected in increases in the number of African American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American students this fall." This is a big boost to our community despite the overall number of students is reduced. I like a cloud with a silver lining."
Umm ok, not sure where your going with this but that does sound a bit r----t, fill in the blanks.
Funny then the article states:
"A drop in on-campus student headcount was offset by increases in the number of students taking classes online and at several off-campus locations, including the Metro Learning Center in Overland Park."
"Students new to the university – a category that includes freshmen, transfer students and new graduate students – are up 220 over last year’s count."
Folks Emporia State is still a cost efficient education, and a quality university. Be thankful that we still have it here, it employs a great deal of our community.
September 25, 2009 at 1:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
Emporia State is just trying to put a positive spin on a bad situation. The truth is, it may not be hemmoraging students, but it is bleeding. Mike Lane needs to work a miracle.
September 25, 2009 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
It's not even bleeding, truth be told I see them picking up more students through online and outreach programs, especially in the coming year when there is a good amount of people going back to school due to economic reasons(career change, more training, etc) The biggest mistake the school has made was building the new fitness center, and that was not Mike Lane's doing.
Could you explain to me what miracle Mike Lane needs to conjure? As for Ft Hayt, this link is a pretty good barometer for what they are doing.
www.kspsd.org/IR/common/documents/......
September 25, 2009 at 8:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jamesbordonaro (James Bordonaro) says...
I doubt that any particular year's enrollment can be attributed to the alleged shortcomings of the school's administrative management and even less so to the president himself. This is a tough economic time but things will improve and the best that can be hoped for is to make cuts where possible so that the diversity of programs of study remain the same and function at a high quality of education. Emporia still ranks very high for its Teachers College and that is something to be proud of.
September 25, 2009 at 9:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
The School of Business is no slouch either, it looks as if the link above I posted is not working. Basically what it showed was that Ft Hays had a %4900 increase in non resident alien students from 2003-2008. To their credit though they have been able to keep costs down, but comparitively speaking Emporia State is still cheaper than Fort Hays if you plan on taking anything over 12 credit hours, and even at 12 credit hours they are almost equal.
September 25, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emp205 (anonymous) says...
Williams has done great to stem the bleeding. I know for a fact he has tried and continues to try and build new programs, he is not getting much funding for above. ESU can't afford to loose him.....
September 25, 2009 at 10:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
I am not blaming Lane, Williams or any other administrator. The fact is ESU is losing students when almost all others are gaining students. This is not new news. ESU is the smallest Regent school and, aside from a few programs like education, business and SLIM, is not a top tier school, even in the Regent system. Rather than build new programs, Williams ought to be beefing up some of the old, tired programs that no longer provide a quality education or just plain are no longer needed.
September 25, 2009 at 10:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
And don't forget, even when Williams oversaw enrollment, the numbers were not very good.
September 25, 2009 at 10:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
Observe: I am guilty of writing before I think. Either beef up programs that are still needed or get rid of them. IF ESU is such a good buy, why are we losing students?
September 26, 2009 at 2:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
LOL good one, I seem to remember this last president totally screwing over our entire education system with "No Child Left Behind" which I have yet to hear one teacher or administrator say anything good about when off the record. There is a massive difference between an underfunded program and a deficient program. You want to drag politics into the equation you had better at least look at what happened to education in this country prior to Obama taking office.
September 26, 2009 at 3:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
"Observe: I am guilty of writing before I think. Either beef up programs that are still needed or get rid of them. IF ESU is such a good buy, why are we losing students?"
We talking minuscule amounts that were offset in other areas. One could write it off to the growing trend in people taking more and more online courses and using outreach centers of traditional methods. ESU still offers a cheap and quality education for teachers and business people alike, as long as they can keep costs under control they will have no problem retaining an adequate number of students.
September 26, 2009 at 3:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
The numbers include all types of students...online, on ground. It still shows a loss....
September 26, 2009 at 3:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
By the way, what does the FTE count show?
September 26, 2009 at 3:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
"The numbers include all types of students...online, on ground. It still shows a loss...."
Read the article. loss in on campus was offset by....
"A drop in on-campus student headcount was offset by increases in the number of students taking classes online and at several off-campus locations, including the Metro Learning Center in Overland Park."
September 26, 2009 at 8:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
Goodoleboy: Go read the Fall09 to Fall08 report at the Kansas Board of Regents link and then you'll see that the off campus totals helped offset some of the loss, but not all the loss.
http://www.kansasregents.org/download...
September 26, 2009 at 10:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
It's all the smoking bans fault=)
The sky is not falling, perhaps we should just import more aliens in like Fort Hays does, that would make for a silver lining in Observations cloud.
Observation
"Hmmm you're right irishemporia; there is something that isn't right about the numbers compared to all other Reagent Universities in Kansas. If something isn't right, it's wrong:
As I said above, lets just import more students in to solve the problem like the rest, except racists like you would think that a bad thing too, so which way you want it. Careful you cannot delete what you said earlier.
September 27, 2009 at 12:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
All I need is the sheer joy and entertainment I am blessed with upon reading your replies, they are all clouds with silver linings, so much better than that new car smell=)
September 27, 2009 at 10:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EsqEB (anonymous) says...
Goodolboy,
I have wondered over the past six months, that if No Child Left Behind was such a massive failure on the part of Bush, why has't Obama and team dismantled it? They have or at least tried to sink their claws into every other aspect of our life...cars, healthcare, how we sneeze, own our homes, run our banks, etc, etc. But if this piece of Democrat backed legislation was so horrible, why have they not bothered to even look it over?
My guess is: 1.) it's not has bad as laid out to be and 2.) they don't have any better ideas, solutions, or suggestions, they just wanted to b***h about something for 6 years.
Maybe Obama is too busy pimping Chicago for the Olympics, making late night television appearances, taking vacations, etc, etc, that he doesnt have time for petty things like our childrens future and meeting with the Generals in Afghanistan more than once every six months.
September 29, 2009 at 11:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )