Enrollments increase at all but one of state's public colleges
Associated Press/The Courier-Journal
September 23, 2002
Enrollments increase at all but one of state's public colleges
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Enrollment is up at nearly every Kentucky public college and university this fall, according to preliminary figures, perhaps marking a new direction for the state that has always ranked among the lowest in the nation in education.
While college enrollments often rise during times of economic uncertainty, higher-education officials believe the current increase could suggest a shift in attitude and an appreciation for the fact that without a diploma or at least an educational effort, people may be doomed to the backwater of the economy.
This fall it has meant bulging campuses, crowded classrooms, scrambling instructors and fretting administrators.
''I'm proud of the numbers, but certainly challenged to keep everything in perspective,'' said Western Kentucky University President Gary Ransdell.
One of the challenges facing the entire system is enrollment increases coupled with a decrease in available state funds.
While the colleges and universities were spared most of the budget cuts of the last two years, they also have seen little growth in state funding. Even with tuition increases, ''the problem is we're growing at a time when the state is unable to fund that growth,'' Ransdell said. ''And that's as serious, if not more serious, than a budget cut.''
The collision of more students and less money will prompt changes, from new class structures to increased use of online instruction and tutoring, said Sue Moore, acting president of the Postsecondary Education Council.
''I think sharing of resources is critical,'' she said.
In terms of enrollment increases, Western Kentucky University led the way among the state's four-year universities in figures released yesterday by the Council on Postsecondary Education.
Western reported 17,770 students, 1,191 more than last year and 2,888 more than in 1998, the first school year after the General Assembly approved an overhaul of higher education.
But Western's growth pales in comparison to that of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, which had the most dramatic change after the 1997 legislation. It is the amalgamation of the former University of Kentucky community college system and the once-disparate collection of post-secondary technical schools.
Enrollment in the system this fall is 66,370, which is 3,250 more than last school year and dramatically higher than the enrollment of 45,529 four years ago.
Across the system, enrollment is 189,965 this year, up 8,838 from last year and 31,515 from four years ago.
Many of the students are nontraditional, adults returning to school to pick up classes or even a degree long after graduating from high school.
''That 20 percent (increase over four years) represents about 32,000 people whose lives will benefit,'' Moore said.
Even more encouraging educationally is that the increase has come as some institutions have raised admission standards.
Among the institutions, only Eastern Kentucky University and Kentucky State University did not grow in the last four years. Only KSU did not grow from last year to this year.
Aaron Thompson, an academic officer at Eastern, said enrollment is coming back at Richmond.
In ''some of the regions we service, the economy has been bad for a long time,'' Thompson said.
There has also been a decrease in the traditional college-going population of high school graduates, Thompson said. Eastern's enrollment jumped a few years ago, but has settled somewhat.
''We got our share early, you might say,'' Thompson said.
KSU, by far the state's smallest and most troubled four-year institution, saw its enrollment decline from last year and over the last four years to 2,253 -- smaller than many community colleges. KSU officials did not respond to calls for comment last week.
Preliminary fall enrollment figures from the Council on Postsecondary Education for Kentucky colleges and universities and the percentage increase or decrease from last year:
· University of Louisville, 21,000, up 3 percent.
· University of Kentucky, 25,890, up 4.4 percent.
· Kentucky State University, 2,253, down 2.6 percent.
· Western Kentucky University, 17,770, up 7.2 percent.
· Eastern Kentucky University, 15,375, up 3.1 percent.
· Morehead State University, 9,303, up 3.1 percent.
· Murray State University, 10,003, up 3.7 percent.
· Northern Kentucky University, 13,700, up 9.2 percent.
· Community and Technical Colleges, 66,370, up 5.1 percent
September 23, 2002
The Council on Postsecondary Education released preliminary figures yesterday showing enrollment at universities and in adult education programs continues to grow.
Among the findings:
• Enrollment at public colleges and universities grew by 8,838, or 4.9 percent, this year. Since the passage of the higher-education reform act in 1997, enrollment has gone up about 190,000 students, or nearly 20 percent.
• The Kentucky Community and Technical College System has grown 45.8 percent, by nearly 20,800 students. Lexington Community College enrollment increased 3,600.
• The Kentucky Virtual University has grown from 230 students and nine programs in the fall of 1999 to 9,372 students and 32 programs in fall of 2002.
• Adult education has jumped from 51,700 to 86,413 students in 2002, an increase of 67 percent.
• The numbers of Kentuckians earning a GED in 2001 was 57 percent higher than in 2000.
Officials said the extra emphasis on higher education was clearly paying off.
September 23, 2002
Council issues warning to KSU
Kentucky higher education's governing body warned Kentucky State University officials yesterday that time is running out for the troubled school.
But the Council on Postsecondary Education also pledged support as KSU struggles to emerge from its most recent scandals and academic problems.
"The public is justifiably upset at what they have heard from Kentucky State," said Walter Baker, a member of the council, which met in Lexington yesterday. "They do not feel the situation at Kentucky State is tolerable; I do not think it is tolerable.
"I think that maybe we need to start thinking the unthinkable about what to do with Kentucky State over the long term."
The "unthinkable" is putting KSU under the auspices of the University of Kentucky or the University of Louisville. It's a suggestion that came up 20 years ago and emerged early this month at a legislative meeting.
Kentucky State's latest round of problems include the firing of former President George Reid, who was investigated by the FBI for excessive spending, as well as outrage over failing scores on a national teacher education exam.
Council chairwoman Norma Adams also warned KSU Board of Regents Chairman Bill Wilson that the council demanded better performance, both financially and academically.
To that end, the council is helping KSU undergo a thorough audit of all academic programs and how money is spent at the school.
Wilson pointed out that positive change is under way, with a new chief financial officer, budget director, controller, internal director and human resources director. The board is also looking for a new president and expects to hire someone within the next year to 18 months.
"The bottom line is that the board is accepting no excuses. We don't want to tolerate it more than anyone else," he said.
Several board members, however, urged Wilson to try to find a permanent president more quickly.
Wilson said he was not too worried about threats to merge KSU with another school.
"At this stage in the game, it is the unthinkable," he said. "We have enough resources to address the problems we're working on."
But KSU could still face some serious consequences for past failures. The Education Professional Standards Board is expected to warn KSU at a meeting today that if student scores on national teacher exams don't improve by next spring, the teacher education program could be shut down.