Over the coming years, New England colleges are expecting a slight decline in enrollment but PSU is not planning on being adversely affected.
Bill Crangle, the Vice President of Financial Affairs, is involved in creating a strategic plan to help PSU avoid any negative effects of the decline. “We are working on creating a plan that will help PSU reach higher levels and achieve its major goals. Every department can be involved to help the overall plan succeed,” said Crangle.
The cause of the decline is complex. Studies predict a drop in the number of high school graduates over the next decade, due in part to the end of the Baby Boomer child raising years. It is projected that the number of New Hampshire high school graduates will decrease by roughly 11 percent by 2014. The decline can also be credited to the places people are migrating to; many choose to leave the Northeast and live elsewhere, which affects enrollment figures.
New England schools will see a peak in enrollment and admissions in the next few years. A similar dip occurred in 1997, one that PSU was prepared for. The plan that was put into place then help increase student retention rates, the quality of academic programs and the creation of the Criminal Justice and Communications programs.
One of the ways that PSU plans avoiding the decline is by broadening its student base and the pools of students it draws from. “We are going to increase our college fair presence. The web is also a great place for students to find information and will the coming of a new Plymouth website in June, that will hopefully create interest,” said Crangle.
Associate Dean Scott Mantie is also involved in the creation of PSU’s strategic plan and works on institutional research. He works to create an environmental scan, an analysis that provides information about the college “market.” “We are looking to find what groups of people we are successful with and trying to cater to them. Our mission is to have students be successful,” said Mantie.
Schools besides PSU are also gearing towards increasing interest in their institution before the decline begins. According to a 2006 article on boston.com, “Massachusetts, facing a less precipitous decline but at the same time challenged by recruitment of its students by northern neighbors, is also planning for the lean years. For the first time, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst is sending direct mail to sophomores, both in state and out of state, not just juniors, in hope of piquing their interest before other schools reach them.”
When asked how this will impact PSU, Crangle said, “Hopefully not at all. We are planning for it and the preparations we are making will have us in a good place. We are confident that we will remain competitive.”