UI failed to meet goal of 16,000 students by 2020

A decade ago, former University of Idaho President M. Duane Nellis set a goal for the university’s enrollment: 16,000 students by fall 2020.

The enrollment in 2011, when the plan was being put in action, was 12,312 students. This would have meant a rough increase of 500 students per year to meet the goal. Instead, the enrollment of fall 2019 was 11,926. Though 2020’s fall enrollment numbers are not yet confirmed, it is unlikely the university will see such drastic growth by then.

The implementation of the plan meant making changes to appeal to prospective students. This included adjustments in financial aid to be more need-based than before and the introduction of the Discover Idaho Program to attract out-of-state residents.

Despite changes made, university enrollment has changed little since 2011.

Dean Kahler has been UI’s Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management since 2016 and cited factors unexpected at the start of the plan.

Kahler pointed out when the 2011 enrollment plan was put in place, “enrollment cliffs” the university now faces, such as travel bans and the COVID-19 pandemic, were not a part of the discussion.

The university still aims to improve enrollment numbers regardless. According to Kahler, other strategies are in the works for more long-term growth.

Current UI President C. Scott Green created a group working to help enrollment by exploring outreach to more students. Additional financial aid strategies, a partnership with ReUp to help students with incomplete degrees return to their studies and the Vandal Gateway Program, which allows students who do not meet traditional admissions standards to enroll with additional support, have been implemented as well.

However, the pandemic is having an uncertain effect on enrollment. Last semester, enrollment went seemingly unaffected by COVID-19 despite a variety of new challenges.

“The instability of the pandemic concurrent with the enrollment cliff are going to cause institutions to struggle,” Kahler said. “The pandemic is affecting us in a very prolific way.”

While Kahler said the unknowns which have come with the pandemic make it difficult to focus on growth right now, he aims to re-establish stability and move forward. “We have a lot of work to do, but we are moving in the right direction,” Kahler said. “I am confident that the University of Idaho is on the right trajectory to see enrollment growth in the future.”

Haadiya Tariq can be reached at [email protected]