Enrollment decline concerns UH officials
The Chronicle's Matthew Tresaugue reports that University of Houston officials are concerned about recent attendance trends:
Fewer students are attending UH than three years ago. The enrollment slump is a growing concern among campus leaders, and the numbers raise questions about the effectiveness of efforts by the aspiring research institution to recruit and retain more students.
After peaking at 35,180 students in fall 2004, the university's enrollment has slipped by 2.4 percent. The 846-student decrease contrasts with 2 percent growth in enrollment statewide over the same period.
Some say the current size of the student body already is too big, placing considerable pressure on limited resources. But size matters, campus leaders say, because Texas funds colleges and universities using a formula based primarily on enrollment growth.
What's more, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has set a target of 36,346 students at UH by 2010 — an increase of about 2,000. The push is part of a statewide effort to promote greater enrollment in higher education, especially among Hispanics, the fastest-growing ethnic group in Texas.
Just a minor correction -- the University of Houston is a major doctoral granting research institution. North Texas (mentioned in the story) may be an aspiring research institution, but the University of Houston already IS such an institution. It's indicative of the difficulties UH faces that a story that gets so much right nevertheless gives the wrong impression about the institution.
UH certainly has problems of perception that work against it, not to mention the fact that it remains a commuter school (the story missed an opportunity to discuss Jay Gogue's efforts to remake the university into more of a residential campus, and the impact his departure may have on the plan). But the main issue it faces is one of funding -- the state's flagship institutions (A&M and UT) command the bulk of educational resources, and everyone else gets to fight over the scraps. The current plan of raising standards (and fees) may well have the short-term effect of hurting enrollment, but could have a payoff down the line. That's the choice UH officials have to make, since they don't have huge financial endowments at their disposal.
BLOGVERSATION: Lose an Eye, It's a Sport.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/19/07 10:40 PM | Print | Comments (6)
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