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For Immediate Release:

September 12, 1997

Contact: Cheryl Ernst, (808) 956-5941

UH President Kenneth P. Mortimer's Remarks on Enrollment
Presented to the Board of Regents during its meeting Sept. 12 on Kaua'i

Enrollment for the University of Hawai'i System this fall declined by 1,827 students-less than 4 percent from last fall-according to preliminary opening figures for the last day of late registration, Sept. 8.

The largest decreases-6 percent-occurred at UH Manoa and UH Hilo, while UH West Oahu remained stable. UH Community Colleges declined by 2 percent; however, part of the decline can be attributed to the shift in adult basic education to non-credit courses.

At nearly every campus the decline was less than that experienced last year. Maui Community College, which experienced a 2.3 percent decline over last fall, was still slightly ahead of 1995 opening enrollment figures. Windward Community College gained 9 students for a .6 percent increase this fall.

An analysis of final official enrollments at the end of the month will tell us more, but we suspect this fall's enrollment numbers reflect a number of factors:

· The number of high school seniors in Hawaii has declined 7 percent since 199495.

· The number of students graduating has increased 3­4 percent in each of the last several years at UH Manoa. UH Hilo reported a similar increase in graduates last year.

· Headcount enrollment may have declined, but students are continuing take more credit hours per semester. Thus they are fulfilling graduation requirements more quickly.

A survey of first time freshmen who did not enroll in UH indicates that tuition increases were not a significant factor in their decision. In addition, we have not seen a significant shift in enrollment from the baccalaureate campuses to the less expensive Community Colleges. Thus the primary impact of tuition on enrollment appears to be that it has contributed to more efficient or timely progress by students working toward their degrees.

 

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