ESU’s enrollment numbers down, FHTC’s up
John Giffin, john@emporiagazette.com
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Emporia State University saw a decrease in enrollment numbers while Flint Hills Technical College saw an increase, according to the Kansas Board of Regents’ 20th day preliminary report released noon Tuesday.
A total of 5,976 students enrolled at ESU for the Fall 2011 semester, 286 fewer than in Fall 2010. Resident students made up 4,639 of the total. There are 1,337 non-resident students currently enrolled.
ESU’s total enrollment in Fall 2010 was 6,262.
The 4.6 percent decrease is the highest percentage decrease in the state and is one of two four-year universities in Kansas that saw a decrease. The University of Kansas also saw a 2.5 percent decrease in enrollment.
“Competition is fierce for on-campus enrollment,” said Ed Flentje, ESU Interim President. “I think Emporia State hasn’t been getting its message out about the opportunities here.”
Flint Hills Technical College has a 10 percent increase in enrollment from Fall 2010. FHTC increased 73 students for a total of 752. All FHTC students are resident students. Fort Hays State University had the largest percentage increase of four-year colleges with a 7.7 percent increase.
Northwest Kansas Technical College in Goodland saw the largest percentage increase of any post-secondary educational institute in Kansas with a 23.2 percent increase.
Cowley Community College in Arkansas City was the post-secondary educational facility that saw the largest percentage decrease in Kansas with a loss of 11.4 percent of its students.
In order to boost enrollment, ESU has launched a new marketing strategy named Empowered by E — Engaging Excellence. The campaign focuses on quality, affordability and personal attention as being factors that make ESU attractive to prospective students.
“We’ve got a plan that we’re implementing this year to upgrade and fund more than we ever had a marketing plan, kind of a branding message about Emporia State University,” said Flentje That’s already begun in the urban markets of Wichita, Topeka and Kansas City. We’ve got some billboards, TV kinds of ads.”
He continued, “Emporia State has kind of been reticent in the past to market aggressively. You don’t have to look very far to see how aggressive some of the other post-secondary area institutions are in their marketing.”
Starting this month, the “Empowered by E” program has started distributing redesigned viewbooks and recruitment materials to prospective students. ESU is also making efforts for student retention. It includes an early alert advising system for students who are struggling in classes while providing student with campus resources to improve academic performance. An enhanced advising system is also being implemented to aid in student’s success.
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
What's Fort Hays State got that Emporia doesn't?
September 27, 2011 at 7:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
Lots of international students. ESU has some, but not nearly as many at FHSU. And if it weren't for international students ESU's enrollment numbers would be really, really bad.
September 27, 2011 at 9:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
Cost ? FHSU is almost $1000.00 cheaper per 30hr. IDK ? Never been on their campus..
September 27, 2011 at 9:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mslater (Matt Slater) says...
My guess is that the 286 students that dropped were residency students too. What's really bad is that when I started college in 2002, I want to say that enrollment numbers were above 8,000 students. That's an attrition rate of almost 50% in 9 years.
September 27, 2011 at 10:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Richie (anonymous) says...
Sorry to beat a dead horse...
ESU is a fine university, where I received my education and degree. Proud Hornet, that I am! But, let's talk about the community. Career-wise, there is nothing in Emporia to keep the ESU graduates, well, very few of them.
Emporia is in a very delicate place in this ever-changing, global economy.
If Emporia is to grow, it needs to retain the graduates from ESU and FHTC. Brain-power! As it is, they grab their degrees and head towards the cities.
Find a way to keep the college graduates, and you will solve part of Emporia's economic and social decline.
September 27, 2011 at 11:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Richie (anonymous) says...
What are you doing to retain them?
September 27, 2011 at 11:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Richie (anonymous) says...
After I graduated from ESU, I moved to Kansas City for it's variety of career opportunities. That's not to say I don't appreciate my hometown. My degree from ESU has served me well! I've ended up on the West Coast. I'm now heading up a division for one of the country's largest companies. So, my point is Emporia has a fine opportunity in ESU. Find ways to keep the graduates! And, the community will grow.
September 27, 2011 at 11:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mslater (Matt Slater) says...
Agreed, Richie. Right now there's hardly enough jobs for ESU students while they're IN college, let alone once they graduate. Again, not to complain without a solution, my suggestion: lower taxes, and start pandering to businesses rather than tourists, but don't go overboard (Fanestils).
Matt
September 28, 2011 at 2:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
Let's not forget the need to retain ESU students on the weekends! A friend lives in an apt complex that empties out on the weekends. His ESU-student neighbor leaves for the weekend to work in Council Grove and another leaves for work in Overland Park. He estimates that 20 students leave each weekend mainly to work part-time jobs. If we can't keep 'em while they're in school we don't have a chance to keep 'em when they graduate.
September 28, 2011 at 9:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
O.K., college grads and degree holders, the simple truth is it takes " MONEY " and the wise use/spending of what " MONEY " the City recieves in what ever revenues it recieves to move Emporia toward what you envision and " WANT " !
I would ask, where and how do you propose that " MONEY " come from, especially in a City that spends its revenues, as well as borrowed millions on " What " exactly ? The promoting of tourism, low paying food service jobs or pet food manufacturing jobs that pay, maybe 20 to 40 percent above the minimum/poverty level wage .
Is that what you go to college for, to work at a food service job, making pet food, making hamburger, etc., at a food processing plant, for possibly $25,000 per year ?
While the City leaders continue spending money on carpeted sports playing/practice fields, Rocks, subsidizing Aquatic Parks, municiple golf courses, developement and tourisim organizations, all of which have had little real jobs benefits to the City or the taxpaying people of the City or moved the City any closer to the future, including the University/Tech College students . The decisions on money spending and investing in Emporias' future has been mediocre at best and just plain terrible at worst .
I keep saying, one must take care of and maintain their foundation, inorder to support ones self and be able to move and look toward what they percieve their future to be. If you fail to maintain or ignore the foundation you have built your life, your home, your life, even your very existance on all that you have built or want to build will crumble and fall, and that goes for an entire city as well. Let the Citys' foundation/infrastructure crumble away the City will fall. Also if you think a large global company that pays good wages, does not look at how a Citys' leaders takes care of the Citys' foundation/infrastructure or if the Citys' leaders are wasting money on unnecessary, unneeded " Objects/Things ", your are badly mistaken or how much of a tax burden the businesses, industries, citizens of that City, Town, area are saddled with, you are badly mistaken .
I do not have any answers, especially while the leaders of the City continue to spend and give away money as if it grew on every tree in Emporia and continue to drive people from Emporia, while letting Emporias foundation/infrastructure continue to crumble and fall into inevitable ruin.
I do not blame any college graduate for leaving Emporia, I would do so myself, if I were not old, on a fixed income and able to do so .
AAJMO
September 28, 2011 at 10:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hogan77 (anonymous) says...
Steve- Fort Hays has better community than Emporia. I should know, I live right next to it. Clean Wal-Mart, a full mall, clean restaurants and housing. Not to mention, there is always a job.
No one would ever believe me before when I said Southwest and Western Kansas was booming... nope, everyone wanted to keep sticking their head in the sand and believe that Emporia was the place to be. So Emporia... how are those empty store fronts and rocks working for you now?
September 28, 2011 at 1:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
OK, leaders...we have identified a problem at ESU,,,,when will you pull your collective head out an address the issue of why we are loosing students at ESU....I would suggest the problem is both the way the students are minned as a resource by our police dept. and lack of past leadership at ESU.......Police lighten up on our students would be a good start,expect and demand a proven admin at ESU who can deliver an increase in students...DUMP the unproven 719 commercial street expenses that are funded by our taxs and replace it with a committee to recruit bodies on campus. Emporia could be facing an economic Waterloo if we dont turn ESU AROUND AND NOW. We should be recruiting students now for sept 2012, any bets on what that enrollment will be w/o change??????????
September 28, 2011 at 2:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
Hogan77, OUCH that cut deep, BUT the truth doesn't hurt right ? And you are right !! Emporia has nothing to offer students. The city is in trouble & not getting better. They have Dolly in bankruptcy, Tyson in trouble( in several ways) Lenz left town, Fanestil underwater,FEMA broke. And the taxpayers are building a $1.5 million dollar sewer line to nowhere, thats a lot of crap... When does it stop ?? How about Spirit Aero opening a plant in Chanute? Did the RDA even try ?
September 28, 2011 at 2:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Anyone else hear about a company here in Emporia, that has already told their office staff they would close the office part of operations and transfer those positions to the Phillipines next year?
Supposed to be about 40-50 jobs lost. Will Emporia offer them a "fanestil" deal?
Just wondering?
September 28, 2011 at 2:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hogan77 (anonymous) says...
tourguide: The problem in Emporia isn't the general public... it is the Commissioners, the RDA. They need to stop pretending they are like the big boys in Junction City, Wichita, KC, etc.
There was a reason I left town and stayed gone. If I were to come back now, what would Emporia offer me? Even with a college education there are no jobs for me, and high cost of living. I would drown myself in debt just trying to live, just as many of these ESU students will if they stick around there too long.
Sorry, truth does hurt. But... I told them so. Out here in Hays/ Dodge City/ Garden City area there are jobs all over. Smaller towns are located close by the larger areas and offer cheap housing. (This would be why in my town there is none available- they go super fast. Where else can you get a 3 bedroom house for $325 a month, and it NOT be a slum?) Sure, one may have to drive 25 miles to get to work, but it's still a shorter commute than some people in Wichita have to deal with.
September 28, 2011 at 2:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spensanity (anonymous) says...
Steve-
I just heard yesterday about the company moving their office staff to the KC area and shipping some of their processing parts to the Phillipines. Not long before they are gone---don't see their delivery trucks getting on the interstate anymore. Another big business gone and this town could be doomed! As for ESU---those students having NOTHING to do here (work or play) so why would they want to enroll here? They are now charging a huge "on campus" fee and no one stays "on campus" to do anything!!
September 28, 2011 at 3:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
You know, I can remember when, there was a time when, not only people and students that lived in Emporia could find work/a job, either part time or full time, just about anywhere in Emporia, but people were also driving to Emporia from the surrounding areas, even Topeka, Osage City, Ottawa and other towns and Cities to work in Emporia at places, such as Armour, IBP, Modine, Crawfords, Rainbow Bakery, Sauder Inc., Didde-Glaser, Santa Fe, KSTC, Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, Coors Distributors/Debauge, Lenze, CamoPlast, Dolly Madison, Anderson Livestock/feedlot and even eventually move to Emporia . And even local area farmers hired high school and College students to do part time seasonal work .... Shoot I have helped put many a bale of hay up, while in Jr. High and High School, there was even a couple of Laundry/Dry Cleaning Businesses, that hired full and part time help .
And these Companys and jobs were brought to Emporia, by local private individuals and businessmen, with insight, foresight and vision, at a cost to them, far less than what the taxpayers are paying/subsidizing the so called " Professional Development Associations or Convention and Visitors Bureau, etc. are being given in the past and today !
Yes, a lot of these businesses/jobs were not in line with anyones particular career asperations, but my Father and Grandfather always told me, you do what you have to do to survive and " Provide ", no matter whether you like the particular job or not . And I have had to do just that, most of my life .
What I don' t like is to have my local leaders ask or at times beg for my or the peoples input or suggestions or questions and then just " Blow Me/the peoples suggestions Off " and continue to " Kill " this City and its people with the same old BAU ( Bussines As Usual ) ! And think they are doing a good job for everyone !
AAJMO
September 28, 2011 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
congrats to tech col............
September 28, 2011 at 5 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Two things to take away from this:
1. More students are opting for 2 year schools now to take gen ed credits in order to avoid the higher costs associated with 4 year institutions. This is necessary because of the cuts to grants and student loans, and because unlike their 4 year counterparts, 2 year schools have been able to keep tuition flat.
2. This should be a giant WAKE UP CALL for the leaders of this city. ESU is your largest employer now, you better damn well start catering to them instead of moronic ventures like Fanestil's. We have an abundance of crazy cutters in power at the statehouse, if there ever was a time a university could get shuddered guess which one they would choose?
Steve,
This company you are speaking of start with an H?
September 28, 2011 at 6:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
RDA will give the same excuse he always gives. Emporia doesnt have this or that.There are companies looking for places to build.Its not that Emporia doesnt have its the problem with the RDA needs new blood.If you have a salesman thats not producing you get one that can. That goes for the current city manager also!
September 28, 2011 at 7:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pingeon (anonymous) says...
I would LOVE to move back to my hometown. I love coming back to visit, however moving back won't happen until I retire unless something changes drastically.
I graduated from ESU and wanted to stay in Emporia. Unfortunately, there was nothing around in my field. The handful of jobs that were around were already taken and those folks weren't leaving any time soon. Plus, I could easily double my salary by moving (as a college grad with no experience even). Therefore, it was a no brainer to leave. Those conditions have not changed, so I still stay gone.
I still visit every now and then. However, those times are becoming fewer and farther in-between. The reason for this is because of the activities available. There isn't much. I am one that does hang out in bars, but the ones in Emporia are not worth hanging out in compared to what we have where I live. There are exceptions (yes Steve, yours is one of the few), but it's just not worth the drive.
I truly wish some of the rock money and other funds would be diverted into bringing businesses to town. Quit worrying about tourism, fast food joints and big box stores. Some major manufacturing or high end technical jobs. GIVE them the land and NO taxes for 10 years if you have to. Once the first couple are here, it's a natural draw for others. Saving Fanestal's is nice and I hope they get it done, but that's a pretty penny to pay for $12/hour jobs + the plan of reducing staff.....
September 28, 2011 at 7:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
PINGION, liked the post,we all know what the problems are in Emporia,,,,inept leadership in the past,bad vision,and for the most part they were members of the I got mine club.We have a chance to turn this around if our new leaders put on their big boys and girls pants and start acting as true leaders and not lemings led by our failed past leaders.
September 29, 2011 at 7:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
marko (anonymous) says...
125/150 new good jobs goes to Chanute.... Chanute???? http://www.koamtv.com/story/15561978/...
September 29, 2011 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
landinkansas (anonymous) says...
Need to improve the area around ESU. Restaurants, Bars, Sportsbars, Coffee houses, Shopping, ect. Curb appeal to current & prospective students. It's like any business, give them what they want. Students want things to do. Look around other popular university area's. They attract and retain their students by providing them with what want. Students spend money, but only if you can attact them.....
September 29, 2011 at 11:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
americus1987 (anonymous) says...
This is a typical conversation around ESU. .
So what are you majoring in? (insert degree here)
Oh what are you're plans once you graduate? "Don't really care as long as it takes me away from here."
September 29, 2011 at 12:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )