Enrollment

[SIOUXFAN97]

2 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

Less than 300 miles along I94 you have seven 4 year colleges

[GeauxSioux]

On 9/22/2023 at 9:46 AM, The Sicatoka said:

See: St. Cloud State (down about 8000 in a decade). 

St. Cloud State University hopes an accelerated online program will boost enrollment and ease budget woes. Critics say it's exploitive.

An interesting piece on how St. Cloud is handling their enrollment death spiral and how the administration hopes to get out of it.  They plan to partner with a "for profit" company to do accelerated online learning to pump up their enrollment.  The comments to the article are very telling as to what former graduates and people in the area think.  The future is not bright at SCSU.  One hour away from the 16th largest MSA in the country and their president thinks this is a winning idea.

Quote

"It's on us to do whatever it takes so that St. Cloud State University can remain a thriving and evolving university for generations to come," Robbyn Wacker, St. Cloud State president, told faculty in August. "Keeping our university frozen in time will be its demise."

 

[Nodak78]

5 minutes ago, GeauxSioux said:

St. Cloud State University hopes an accelerated online program will boost enrollment and ease budget woes. Critics say it's exploitive.

An interesting piece on how St. Cloud is handling their enrollment death spiral and how the administration hopes to get out of it.  They plan to partner with a "for profit" company to do accelerated online learning to pump up their enrollment.  The comments to the article are very telling as to what former graduates and people in the area think.  The future is not bright at SCSU.  One hour away from the 16th largest MSA in the country and their president thinks this is a winning idea.

 

Higher ED is over valued with the degrees they offer.  

[61hawk]

3 hours ago, GeauxSioux said:

St. Cloud State University hopes an accelerated online program will boost enrollment and ease budget woes. Critics say it's exploitive.

An interesting piece on how St. Cloud is handling their enrollment death spiral and how the administration hopes to get out of it.  They plan to partner with a "for profit" company to do accelerated online learning to pump up their enrollment.  The comments to the article are very telling as to what former graduates and people in the area think.  The future is not bright at SCSU.  One hour away from the 16th largest MSA in the country and their president thinks this is a winning idea.

 

Ask Southern Cal how well working with "for profit" snake oil salesmen 2U worked out for them.  I know the people who had to go in and straighten that mess out... and it involved a lot of budget cuts and layoffs.  I know of other colleges/departments around the country that have used or looked into using 2U thinking it was going to be a money making proposition, when it was anything but that.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/edwardconroy/2023/05/13/former-master-of-social-work-students-are-suing-usc/?sh=a3afec590d2c

[61hawk]

3 hours ago, Nodak78 said:

Higher ED is over valued with the degrees they offer.  

You can say that about every university and college.  Employers are learning this and starting to consider experience in place of a 2 or 4 year degree for many jobs.  Example: 4 year degree and 2 years experience, or 2 year degree and 4 years of experience, or 6 years of experience.  I've hired or been involved in hiring over 100 employees and in most cases I valued experience over the degree.  Most universities could probably cut 50% of their majors offered. 90% of liberal arts degrees are nothing more than a pathway to working at Starbucks.

[nodak651]

4 hours ago, GeauxSioux said:

St. Cloud State University hopes an accelerated online program will boost enrollment and ease budget woes. Critics say it's exploitive.

An interesting piece on how St. Cloud is handling their enrollment death spiral and how the administration hopes to get out of it.  They plan to partner with a "for profit" company to do accelerated online learning to pump up their enrollment.  The comments to the article are very telling as to what former graduates and people in the area think.  The future is not bright at SCSU.  One hour away from the 16th largest MSA in the country and their president thinks this is a winning idea.

 

I know it started prior to this, but I kinda feel like cutting FB was a major factor in SCSU's downfall.  Not a good look to potential students who are choosing between SCSU, Mankato, Bemidji, Duluth, Winona, etc. Especially when SCSU and St. Cloud don't have very many redeaming qualities when comparing them to other public schools in MN. 

Football and sports aren't a reason that should be used to select a school, but it's certainly a valid reason to cross a school off the list if there are other alternatives that offer the same or better education.

Off topic  but it's a shame SCSU wasn't built a little further North, in the lakes area around Alexandria (who wouldnt want to go to college in a town that has a Zorbaz).  Could have been an awesome college town and would have been the perfect location for a true "state" flagship university, had MN chosen to go that route, way back when.  

 

[GeauxSioux]

St. Cloud State University Reports Enrollment Surge, First Increase Since 2015

Quote

The university says its fall enrollment for the 2023-2024 academic year saw a 7.7% jump in full-time learners and has been able to keep over 10,000 people working towards undergraduate and graduate degrees. The numbers were aided by a substantial 16.5% rise in the number of incoming freshmen and 11.7% growth in the number of transfer students.

The university gives credit for the upswing to the “It’s Time” strategic framework, which offers a personalized learning journey to students. The shift has resulted in the first year-over-year increase in total headcount since the fall of 2015, marking a significant turnaround in enrollment.

Although it is not mentioned, I can't help but wonder if the online presence is the major contributor to the large increase in new students. Or maybe the "It's Time" strategic framework is the online.

[FSSD]

2 hours ago, GeauxSioux said:

St. Cloud State University Reports Enrollment Surge, First Increase Since 2015

Although it is not mentioned, I can't help but wonder if the online presence is the major contributor to the large increase in new students. Or maybe the "It's Time" strategic framework is the online.

Or maybe it's the in-state free education for children with parents making less than $XX,XXX.  I forget the number but it was passed this year.  If it's Minnesota - It's Free.

[nodak651]

Complete fall numbers were posted https://ndus.edu/contact-us/institutional-research/reporting/

[AJS]

Good problem, but fairly frustrating though. Hopefully some don't transfer elsewhere. 

https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/with-dorm-applications-up-some-und-students-waiting-to-find-out-if-theyll-have-fall-housing

[nodak651]

5 minutes ago, AJS said:

Do you consider this a good problem? Fairly frustrating though. Hopefully some don't transfer elsewhere. 

https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/with-dorm-applications-up-some-und-students-waiting-to-find-out-if-theyll-have-fall-housing

I think so.  Perhaps a result of the dorm renovations?  People might actually like the dorms?

[UNDBIZ]

Good that apps are up.  Bad that we tore down a bunch of dormitories without new housing in place.

[Siouxperman8]

5 minutes ago, UNDBIZ said:

Good that apps are up.  Bad that we tore down a bunch of dormitories without new housing in place.

I remember some dorms being torn down but don’t remember the details.  Which ones are gone?

[UNDBIZ]

Bek, Walsh, Hancock, and Squires are gone.  Johnstone and Fulton are on the chopping block.  Mcvey and West were replaced.  Looks like Fulton might already be shut down.

[Oxbow6]

3 hours ago, UNDBIZ said:

Good that apps are up.  Bad that we tore down a bunch of dormitories without new housing in place.

This is Higher Education we are talking about......

[andtheHomeoftheSIOUX!!]

An update on UND Housing: https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/housing-demand-expected-to-surpass-capacity-at-und

[forksandspoons]

Good problem to have!

[CMSioux]

Meanwhile other schools are shutting down and tearing down dorms because students want nicer digs or independent living. No doubt the new dorms with all the bells and whistles are drawing students back to campus. Nice problem to have. 

[andtheHomeoftheSIOUX!!]

https://www.kxnet.com/news/top-stories/record-applications-force-u-mary-to-implement-an-enrollment-waiting-list/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=local+news&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0_z4LaeDJX-SV-skBvER8DrOuoA1IJYFVQW3r6lBWjWBarbaJD7UFswmE_aem_Mo_Tf1CxG1znahEdWzo2Og

Quote

With a record-breaking number of applications for the second year in a row, the University of Mary finds itself having to implement a waiting list for those seeking to attend the institution.

 

[Esoteric]

On 10/9/2023 at 10:10 PM, nodak651 said:

I know it started prior to this, but I kinda feel like cutting FB was a major factor in SCSU's downfall.  Not a good look to potential students who are choosing between SCSU, Mankato, Bemidji, Duluth, Winona, etc. Especially when SCSU and St. Cloud don't have very many redeaming qualities when comparing them to other public schools in MN. 

Football and sports aren't a reason that should be used to select a school, but it's certainly a valid reason to cross a school off the list if there are other alternatives that offer the same or better education.

Off topic  but it's a shame SCSU wasn't built a little further North, in the lakes area around Alexandria (who wouldnt want to go to college in a town that has a Zorbaz).  Could have been an awesome college town and would have been the perfect location for a true "state" flagship university, had MN chosen to go that route, way back when.  

 

Besides Alec is a fun place.  And it is a fairly short bicycle ride from Alexandria to St. Cloud.  

[The Sicatoka]

Please all join me in a conjuring to hear the voice of @Teeder11 :
 

Oh great @Teeder11, what say you on this topic for Fall 2024 ... and do you have insights from around the region ...

[Teeder11]

6 minutes ago, The Sicatoka said:

Please all join me in a conjuring to hear the voice of @Teeder11 :
 

Oh great @Teeder11, what say you on this topic for Fall 2024 ... and do you have insights from around the region ...

Only UND. The news will be good for us. No clue on anyone else.  The President has been saying, as one single metric, that there are 400 more new freshman on campus compared to last year.  We also had an 83% retention rate from fall 22 to fall 23 -- the highest ever recorded in NDUS history, and a 94% retention from fall 23 to spring 24. People just simply want to be a part of UND right now.

Here is his State of the University Address from last Thursday. He talks enrollment starting at the 12:20 mark.

 

[The Sicatoka]

Who knew I could conjure @Teeder11 in just 16 minutes! 

[SIOUXFAN97]

probably should recheck some of these enrollment numbers bc some aren't ready for college yet...

a leo  told a friend at witmer about a freshman in the dorm calling 911 bc he got soap in his.....fire, ambulanace, cops all show up and explain it's just soap...he still wants to go to altru.....they say that it'll cost 15k ....."im good...thanks for coming guys"....

 

 

[Teeder11]

First day 2024 = 14,724

+ 863 or 6.23% over First day 2023

Last year UND gained 300+ between first day and fourth week census day.