Enrollment down, hopes high

By Matt Weafer
The Broadcast

The final numbers are in, and according to Brescia President Sr. Vivian Bowles, the fewer number of students in some classes this semester is the result of a five percent decrease in student enrollment from last year. But the new “can do” staff in the Admissions and Financial Aid office, Sr. Vivian said, is boosting enrollment for the coming semesters.

“The cause for enrollment being down is primarily due to untimely turnover in the Admissions and Financial Aid offices,” Sr. Vivian said. “The good news is that we have new leadership in both those offices.”

With an 83% retention rate (number of returning students) 670 total students attend Brescia for the 2005 Spring semester, including graduate, undergraduate, part-time and full-time students. The total dropped from 708 students last year and 739 students in 2003, according to enrollment records.

Since Fall 1977, when 915 total students attended Brescia, enrollment experienced a rocky decline, only dipping lower than this semester’s total once in Spring 1997 with 627 total students. The records also show that the number of new freshmen this year is the lowest it has been since 1977 when 373 freshmen attended. Since then it has decreased to this semester’s 94 freshmen, which includes part-time and full-time students. Spring 1995 was one of the only semesters close to this year’s total at 95.

Decreasing enrollment’s most noticeable affect is on the budget.

“Enrollment always influences the budget,” Sr. Vivian said. “Needless to say, our operating budget is suffering from the lower enrollment and we are studying ways to cute expenses without having a negative impact on students.”

However, according to Sr. Vivian, “We are already ahead of last year in applications and acceptances. We are also ahead in recruiting for Spring ’06 and expect more students for next semester than we usually get second semester.”

Dean of Enrollment Chris Houk has been taking gregarious steps to contacting potential students.

According to Houk, admissions counselors are visiting high schools outside of the Owensboro area. The Admissions Office hosted a Preview Day for prospective students and another one is scheduled for October 29. Professional photographers visited the campus to snap photos for a new university website, future admissions publications, and future advertisements. The new Ambassador Program is also in action introducing prospective students to campus life. He said, “It is not too late for students to get involved in the Ambassador Program.”

Sr. Vivian said that although last year’s Brescia Bounty did not produce, she is open to students’ suggestions for boosting enrollment.

“Although our numbers are down,” Sr. Vivian said, “we think we have a good quality of students this year and are grateful. Our theme for this year is from our founder St. Angela Merici, ‘Be full of trust, courage, and high hope.”