With FAMU's once powerful student recruitment program practically nonexistent, and the deadline for applying to the University for the Fall 2006 semester having just passed, on May 15th, a review of the University's enrollment trends show that since 2001 we've been losing students at a rate of 400-500 per semester. With FAMU expected to have a total enrollment of about 10,500 students this fall, we will have lost a total of 3,000 students since the fall 2001 semester. That is the euivalent of losing an entire college the size of Ft. Valley State University.
Since the state funds FAMU on the basis of its student headcount, we are wondering what impact a lose of 3,000 students will have on the University's FTE and E&G funding?
See: Shrinking Enrollment
See: Recruitment Failures
See: Enrollment Up at Most Colleges
I have long felt FAMU grew too large too fast. 10,500 actually sounds like about the right size.
ReplyDeleteHowever, we MUST devote resources to recruiting again for the Fall 2007 incoming freshman class. It did not happen for the Fall 2006 class, and the numbers reflect that.
No need to invest in recruitment if we are where you think we should be, just maintain.
ReplyDeleteIn the future, FAMU will be penalized heavily when it comes to funding.
Maybe you can explain the part about growing too fast.
The FL system is the fastest growing system in the country. If every other FL state institution is growing, and I might add at a faster rate now more than ever, then FAMU.
How can we justify competing for state funding when we are all about maintaining?
Any word on the recruitment plan that was to be unveiled in March by Provost Austin?
ReplyDeleteThere is an on-going need to recruit; twenty percent of your student body graduates every year, theoretically, and there is always attrition. Even though I thought the numbers were high, I would not have recommended tying to get to the lower number in one academic year.
ReplyDeleteIn 2005-06, there was no money for recruiting, and it shows.
During the Humphries Administration (16 years) the enrollment went from under 5,000 to almost 12,000. That's a compounded annual growth rate of roughly 7%. But the university's physical infrastructure did not keep pace, and as we have learned in the past 18 months, neither did the computer systems, accounting systems and human resources.
We are in a "pay the piper" period right now as a result.
Brother Brown,
ReplyDeleteWhat in the world does that have to do with growing too fast? If you look at campus, we have a whole host of new buildings to accomodate our growth. We are going to lose MILLIONS of dollars because stupid Dr. Bryant destroyed the recruitment operations of the school.
How does 10,500 sound like "about the right size"? What data do you have to back this up? As another poster stated, we have to grow because all of the other state colleges are growing. Why should the Legislature fund us at high levels when we are experiencing negative growth? Other schools are busting at the seams and you think it's OK for us to sit back and maintain? That's insanity.
Brotherbrown,
ReplyDeleteDuring the Humphries years we had over $175M in construction and renovations take place. Add to that, Humphries left more than $125M in unfinished construction projects on the books. We are still completeing buildings FSH got us money for-- new Pharm Bldg. (Humph), new J-School (Humph) & new addition to Blk Archieves (Hump, Hump)!
Declining enrollment, Gainous/Bryant!
ReplyDeleteSGA Budget cuts, Bryant!
Cracked out (smaller Marching 100), Gainous/Bryant!
Brotherbrown,
ReplyDeleteThe formula for state funding is you have to show a need in order to get funded.
If you have overflowing classrooms, then there is an argument for additional teaching space.
If you have overflowing research and not enough labs, then there is an argument for additional research facilties.
Basically, no one funds stagnant programs anymore. It's all about positive growth. And right now we are experiencing negative growth.
We are already being attacked by other state universities because our enrollment has declined.
I guess you missed FAMU being clowned by USF on nationally TV because of our declining enrollment and extra classroom/research facilities.
I acknowledge all the growth in facilities, and in programs, and I am as proud as any other Rattler at the university's transformation during the nineties.
ReplyDeleteGrowth was good for the university, but even if you don't agree that 10,000 is the right number, hopefully you do realize there is a finite capacity the university can serve. Maybe it is 13,500, but there are still critical infrastructure issues that should be addressed, and in fact I think they are being addressed. Only in the last year could someone register online, a positive (and long-overdue) development.
Suppose we want to one day serve 20,000 students? Do you think we could do that right now? I'd say no. Should we grow 3% and get there in 25 years, or at 7% and get there in 11 years?
Can we grow to 15-25,000 students in five years. Yes!
ReplyDeleteBy recruiting. By expanding online program offerings like colleges we expire to be like currently offer. And by educational offerings at satelite locations (going where the need and the students are).
Is there a need for FAMU to grow? Yes! Is there a need for expanded educational opportunities in the state of Florida. Yes, and particularly for Black Floridians.
--Only in the last year could someone register online, a positive (and long-overdue) development.--
ReplyDeleteThis statement is FALSE!
For years high school students have been able to go directly into their guidance counselor's office and apply to any Florida state university or community college online; or from the privacy of your home by going to FACTS.org.
Furthermore, Rattlerlink has been up and running for years. Students at FAMU can check the status of the financial aid, order transcripts, check class schedule, register, pre-register, etc.
Don't believe anything TCW says unless you fact check it first.
Brother Brown,
ReplyDeleteFor someone that has their picture attached to each message they post, you sure type some ignorant stuff.
"Only in the last year could someone register online, a positive (and long-overdue) development."
WRONG, as another poster has correctly pointed out. Rattler Link, the precursor to ourFAMU, probably has been around since 2001. Dr. Bryant didn't just start this online process in the last year. Please check your info before you throw wild statements around. I realize you probably haven't been on the "Hill" in quite a while but statements like that are just false.
Can you also expound on what "critical infrastructure" Dr. Bryant is addressing for the school? I sure haven't seen it. It seems like she is dismantling the critical infrastructure by destroying the university's recruiting operation.
I have to chuckled at that last one. Only anonymous posters should post ignorant stuff? :D
ReplyDeleteIf I am wrong about the timing, I stand corrected. Perhaps I said register online and should have said apply online. In my years of helping recruit students, it is a relatively recent development.
So what say all you anonymous posters? What is the right enrollment size for FAMU, and what should be the goal over the next ten years?
So at least you recognize you post some dumb stuff. LOL.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I don't think there is a true "ideal" size for FAMU. With distance learning, the Law School in Orlando, and increased use of articulation agreements with community colleges there is no reason to believe that FAMU couldn't be a school of 20,000 students in the next 5-10 years. If you look at it, the only infrastructure that would hold the school back are the dorms. With increased enrollment, the school could issue housing bonds to fund a new generation of campus living options.
People that subscribe to the philosophy of "FAMU is too big" are either dumb or have their head in sand. FAMU is a public institution that shockingly has to teach the... "public". The more the population of Florida increases, the more people FAMU will need to take. We aren't a private institution and we simply cannot deal with negative growth.
I'm not going to pick on your online admission application comment. I'm not sure but I believe it was around before Dr. Bryant came into office.
Great response regarding size and FAMU's role to serve the public.
ReplyDeleteTo support Brother Brown's statement as a person who has been active in FAMU Recruitment, the ability to apply on-line although it existed on-paper, it was never really functional. Most students would tell us at career fairs that they tried to apply on-line and had problems and would request a paper application from us.
ReplyDelete