Enrollment down at several UW campuses this fall
Preliminary enrollment numbers are down by more than 2% this fall on more than half of University of Wisconsin System’s campuses, draining millions in tuition and fee revenue and challenging campuses to make up for demographic shifts in the state’s population.
The two-year UW Colleges collectively took the largest hit in the preliminary numbers — 904 students, or 7.5% — followed by UW-Stevens Point, with a loss of 462 students, or 5.4%.
Last fall, total enrollment at the 13 UW Colleges campuses dropped 22.3%, and total enrollment at UW-Stevens Point fell 6.8%.
UW-Stevens Point is now looking for ways to cut costs. The campus plans to eliminate staff positions and programs so it can invest in areas more likely to increase enrollment, such as the geographic information science program, the Stevens Point Journal reported last month.
One cut already proposed: the likely elimination of the Geography and Geology Department, though not necessarily those majors.
UW Colleges has 13 campuses across the state. Enrollment losses vary by region, but the biggest drops are in northern Wisconsin, where high schools have been most affected by declining demographics, said Cathy Sandeen, chancellor for UW Colleges and UW-Extension.
Many campuses in the UW System have been losing millions of dollars in tuition revenue since 2010, when the number of high school graduates began dropping nationwide due to shifting birth rates.
UW-Milwaukee gained 110 freshmen (3.5%) in this fall’s preliminary headcount, but overall, was down 649 students (2.6%). UW-Madison continued its pattern of modest gains in overall (1.0%) and freshmen (2.8%) enrollments.
A 3.5% drop in enrollment at UWM would mean a loss of more than $6 million in tuition revenue. Nearly a third of revenue for UWM comes from tuition and fees. State funding makes up roughly 15% of revenue at UW campuses.
Preliminary numbers show significant losses in freshman enrollments on several campuses this fall — 206 students (9.3%) at UW-Whitewater and 134
students (8.6%) at UW-Platteville.
Last fall’s early numbers suggested the UW System could lose about 5,000 students and tens of millions of dollars in revenue for the 2016-’17 academic year. This fall, the early numbers suggest a loss of about 2,500 students.
The preliminary numbers show how far each campus must go as student enrollments solidify to avoid big losses. Numbers are likely to change at least slightly, though, before they are finalized at the end of the semester.
Current demographics suggest an aging state population and a decline in the state’s birthrate.
By 2040, nearly 95% of total population growth in Wisconsin will be age 65 and older, while those of working age 18-64 will increase a mere 0.4%, according to demographic predictions.
The demand for an educated labor force will only continue to grow, and the UW System’s strategic plan includes initiatives to help attract more students, spokeswoman Stephanie Marquis said.
The strategic plan includes expanding college-credit options for high school students, reducing time to graduation, enhancing college credit transfer options, and responding to the needs of nontraditional students, such as working adults, Marquis said.
Enrollment trends within UW Colleges vary by campus.
UW-Marathon County and UW-Marshfield in northern Wisconsin have seen big drops, Sandeen said. As a result, six faculty members have been transferred to other campuses with higher teaching workloads. Some went to 50% or 100% teaching online.