2008 Woodie Awards
Plans in progress to increase university student enrollment
Andrew Whitman
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: News
An increase of about 650 full-time-equivalent students at UW-Whitewater during the next four years is a local effort to improve the quality of life in Wisconsin.
In the past, many students leave the state after graduation to pursue better career opportunities. Wisconsin is left with a less educated, older work force, UW-Whitewater Vice Chancellor and Provost John Heyer said.
"We do not draw people into the state the way some other states do because of the economic opportunities that are there for young people," Heyer said.
A plan to increase the student population through 2012 is an effort to enhance the state's economy, Heyer said. UW-Whitewater plans to increase student involvement through on-campus students and non-traditional programs such as online classes to fit the needs of older students.
Vice Chancellor of Administrative Affairs Randy Marnocha said 650 FTE students should be more than 1,000 actual students. The actual numbers of on-campus students, online students and other non-traditional students expected is still being determined.
A proposal was sent to the deans of each college to formulate a plan to set the new growth agenda into action. Once the deans submit their plans, each will be reviewed and a final plan will be formalized toward the end of the semester, Heyer said. Efforts will be made to place the increased number of students in economically vital courses to improve the economic future in Wisconsin.
"What we want to do is to increase those programs that will have the greatest economic impact for the state," he said. "Logical areas would be the sciences, arts and communication, and business."
The new students won't magically appear. New recruiting practices, an improved access to college, and improved retention rates is how UW-Whitewater plans to achieve growth initiatives, Marnocha said.
"Some of [the] students will be online students and we suspect most of those will be non-traditional students," Marnocha said. "Hopefully through the expansion of our online undergraduate program, we'll be able to offer [them] the ability to get an undergraduate degree without having to come to campus."
UW-Whitewater has set aside funds to hire an additional recruiter on campus and is looking at new ways to retain current students so it is not dependent on constant recruiting, Marnocha said.
Increasing the student population will have a minimal effect on current students. The new resident hall and College of Business and Economics building will provide space for more students. The campus will be able to hire new faculty and obtain supplies with state funding and current funding from self-generated sources, Heyer said.
In the past, many students leave the state after graduation to pursue better career opportunities. Wisconsin is left with a less educated, older work force, UW-Whitewater Vice Chancellor and Provost John Heyer said.
"We do not draw people into the state the way some other states do because of the economic opportunities that are there for young people," Heyer said.
A plan to increase the student population through 2012 is an effort to enhance the state's economy, Heyer said. UW-Whitewater plans to increase student involvement through on-campus students and non-traditional programs such as online classes to fit the needs of older students.
Vice Chancellor of Administrative Affairs Randy Marnocha said 650 FTE students should be more than 1,000 actual students. The actual numbers of on-campus students, online students and other non-traditional students expected is still being determined.
A proposal was sent to the deans of each college to formulate a plan to set the new growth agenda into action. Once the deans submit their plans, each will be reviewed and a final plan will be formalized toward the end of the semester, Heyer said. Efforts will be made to place the increased number of students in economically vital courses to improve the economic future in Wisconsin.
"What we want to do is to increase those programs that will have the greatest economic impact for the state," he said. "Logical areas would be the sciences, arts and communication, and business."
The new students won't magically appear. New recruiting practices, an improved access to college, and improved retention rates is how UW-Whitewater plans to achieve growth initiatives, Marnocha said.
"Some of [the] students will be online students and we suspect most of those will be non-traditional students," Marnocha said. "Hopefully through the expansion of our online undergraduate program, we'll be able to offer [them] the ability to get an undergraduate degree without having to come to campus."
UW-Whitewater has set aside funds to hire an additional recruiter on campus and is looking at new ways to retain current students so it is not dependent on constant recruiting, Marnocha said.
Increasing the student population will have a minimal effect on current students. The new resident hall and College of Business and Economics building will provide space for more students. The campus will be able to hire new faculty and obtain supplies with state funding and current funding from self-generated sources, Heyer said.
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