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YSU Community Optimistic Despite Enrollment Drop
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Across the Youngstown State University campus, several individuals remain confident that YSU will rebound from its most recent drop in enrollment.
YSU reported this morning, the first day of the fall semester, that enrollment declined for the fourth consecutive year, by 6.5%. In June, the university said the loss from lower tuition revenue and decreased state funding over the past three years was $19.5 million. That number could reach $22 million this year, the same report said.
First-day enrollment at YSU was reported at 12,337. Enrollment figures aren't official until the 15th day of the semester.
“Obviously, whenever enrollment goes down, the result is a decrease in tuition revenue. We're going to see that and we've seen it over the past few years,” said Ron Cole, director of university communications. “Right now, we've put into place several steps and measures to address those shortfalls in revenue and we feel it's very manageable.”
This year's incoming freshmen have the highest grade point average of any class in YSU history, he also pointed out. He attributed the statistic to the university's shift from open enrollment to open access.
Under the open enrollment policy, any student who applied to YSU was accepted. With open access, students who score low on college entrance exams may be turned away.
“What I think you're going to see is students better prepared to come into the university so they can be more successful as they move toward graduation and meet the demands that the university puts on them,” Cole said.
Students and staff on campus seemed unperturbed by the decline, with many feeling certain the university will recover in due time.
“We're definitely in some challenging times here with student enrollment and in the Valley itself,” said Ryan McNicholas, coordinator of fitness and wellness at the Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center. “Enrollment will bounce back with some of the changes in the Valley like [former head football coach Jim] Tressel coming back as president or the economic boom we're having.”
Freshman Luke Sitch said he feels enrollment may be down because of increasing tuition.
“Everybody's got their own struggles and personal issues, maybe it's monetary issues, that may not let them enroll,” he explained. “But I feel like this is a great school and I don't understand why enrollment's down. You have to stay positive and work for it. I think the enrollment will get back up again. I don't see why it wouldn't.”
Copyright 2014 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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