Oct 14, 2011
Archived: Enrollment Down Nearly 6% At SCSU
St. Cloud State University’s enrollment has decreased by nearly six percent. The 30-day enrollment numbers indicate the overall number of students enrolled at the university is 17,231. This represents a 5.9 percent decrease compared to a year ago. At this time last year 1,088 more students were enrolled.
Provost Devinder Malhotra says the decrease was not unexpected, but called the extent of the shift somewhat surprising. Malhortra cited economic and demographic shifts that are happening on campus and in the region as some reasons for the decline.
The university’s reorganization process, which occurred over the last few years, resulted in 32 academic programs being eliminated. The provost calls this a year of transition. The university also points to a 20 percent increase in students taking liberal arts courses at the St. Cloud Technical and Community College as another reason for the decline in enrollment. The administration anticipates many of those students will finish their fourth year programs at SCSU.
There are two bright spots in the enrollment number pointed out by the school, a 17 percent increase in honor students and a 5.2 percent increase in students of color.
Meanwhile, enrollment is up at Minnesota State Mankato. MnSCU is reporting a total enrollment for 2011-’12 at 15,547 students — a nearly 1 percent increase from last year. MSU-Mankato took on program cuts earlier than SCSU to address budget constraints.
