The State System of Higher Education Chancellor said that he is expecting a decline in enrollment going into the 2021-2022 school year.
During House Appropriations and Education Committee hearings, Chancellor Dan Greenstein said that enrollment at the 14 state-owned universities will probably drop. By how much is not known at this time, as enrollment figures will not be finalized until after the start of the school year. Greenstein testified that he felt the decline in enrollment is not due to the recent maneuvers to consolidate six universities into two entities, but rather due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Greenstein added that he expects the biggest impacts will be among low-income students or students of color. He also said another student population group would be affected.
93,704 students attended a state-system school last year, representing a two percent drop in enrollment. Enrollment has been on a decline since its peak in 2010-2011 when 119,513 students attended. Last fall, IUP reported 10,067 students enrolled in class, which they said at the time exceeded university projections. IUP’s enrollment numbers have not yet been finalized.
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