Northwestern enrollment decreases for fall 2020

n a preliminary enrollment report submitted to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Northwestern Oklahoma State University reported headcount enrollment of 1,835, a decrease of 148 students, or 7 percent. Early projections indicated an expected decrease due to challenges brought on by COVID-19.

“I think the uncertainty of what campus life would look like this fall made a large number of students hesitant to enroll,” Dr. Janet Cunningham, university president, said.

“Our Enid and Woodward campuses saw the largest decrease with a primarily nontraditional student population. Those students are more than likely taking a break due to having young kids in school and the uncertainty of what public schools will be for the remainder of the year.”

Concurrent enrollment also saw an unusual reduction with a 17 percent decrease.

“We are optimistic moving into the spring semester and next fall as we continue to find new avenues to recruit students,” Calleb Mosburg, dean of student affairs and enrollment management, said. “We are thinking creatively and strategically on how to appeal to new students since the recruitment aspect has changed due to COVID-19.”

Enrollment at the main campus in Alva totaled 1,188 students, a decrease of 5.4 percent from last fall. Northwestern-Enid reported 163 students or a decrease of 13.8 percent, and Northwestern-Woodward has 175 students or a 23.6 percent decrease.

Students enrolled at other locations, such as the University Center of Ponca City, totaled 157. Similar numbers in Northwestern’s online courses are seen from last fall with a total of 819 students. These numbers will not add back to the total headcount because of duplications in some categories.