University News
Financial Support Impacting Enrollment
August 14, 2015
MACOMB/MOLINE, IL -- Western Illinois University's Fall Move-in weekend activities will officially kick off at 8 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21. New Student Convocation will be held at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 21 in Western Hall. Classes will begin at 8 a.m. Monday, August 24.
While school officials are anticipating enrollment to decline compared to the Fall 2014 semester due largely to new freshmen and returning students' inability to pay for school, Western Illinois University President Jack Thomas said while the University wants to see more students attend Western, the University remains committed to those who are here.
"We will ensure that our students who will move into their residence halls in just seven short days, and our many returning students, continue to have an outstanding educational experience," he said. "Students who become a part of the Leatherneck family develop a deep affinity and passion for this University."
To date, preliminary projections show that new graduate and total graduate enrollment will be up for the first time since 2008. However, new freshman, freshman retention, new transfer and total enrollments are expected to decline. Official enrollment numbers will be available on or around
Sept. 7.
According to Admissions Director Andy Borst, much of the decline can be attributed to financial difficulties affecting students, particularly lower income students, which has a direct result on student retention, which in turn affects enrollment. Other factors such as increasing competition from out-of-state institutions and the overall declining state population also influence the University's enrollment.
"Our typical indicators of enrollment looked strong all year, and we are still expecting a 10 percent increase in students with academic profiles above the institutional average. But in late summer, we heard from a large number of our lower-income students that even though they want to attend Western, they won't be able to afford to attend," Borst said.
"We are certainly admitting, and enrolling, more students who have the best chance to succeed academically," he added. "Many of our students are struggling financially. We do all we can to assist them in finding grants, loans and scholarships. There are many students who would do so well here, and those who have succeeded in their first and second years, not be able to enroll, or return, due to financial difficulties."
Approximately 42 percent of students enrolled at WIU are first-generation college students. Many WIU students have family incomes below the state's median income of $57,000, and rely on federal and state grants, in addition to loans, to pay for college.
The state has not yet released a higher education budget for Fiscal Year 2016, which includes MAP (Monetary Award Program) funding. However, Western's administration has decided to award MAP grants, as the lack of MAP funding affects approximately 3,000 WIU students who rely on this funding to attend college, Thomas explained. Like other state universities, WIU is providing funds to students in good faith, with Western carrying the liability of the Fall 2015 MAP funds until the state reaches a FY'16 budget agreement.
"Our enrollment challenges over the last 10 years are not unique to Western," Thomas added. "As state support for public higher education has been reduced, Western, like many of our peer institutions across the Midwest, struggles with affordability, especially for low- and middle-income students. We exist to serve all of the residents of the state of Illinois, not just those with financial means. We will continue to be a national leader in finding innovative ways to create affordable options for students, such as our four-year Cost Guarantee, Western Commitment Scholarships and Linkages program agreements with area community colleges."
For more information about WIU enrollment, contact University Relations at (309) 298-1993 or U-Relations@wiu.edu. For more information about admission to WIU, call (309) 298-3157 or (877) PICK-WIU, or email Admissions@wiu.edu
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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