VP of Finance Alan Robertson told FAMU Trustees, yesterday, during a video chat meeting that the university’s consultants informed them that nearly 48 percent of college students have not yet determined if they will return to school during the fall semester. When pressed for details, Robertson said the numbers were from a national survey of current students and high school seniors expected to make up the fall freshman class.
Students are shaken by economic hardship, health fears and overall uncertainty brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Robertson outlined for Trustee several potential bleak revenue forecasts for 2020-2021 school year based on 10, 15, 20 percent drops in enrollment. The projections had the university losing anywhere from $22.3 million to $36.6 million, assuming the State of Florida kept funding levers at the 2019-20 level.
At this point, we really don’t have a clear picture of what’s going to happen with enrollment this fall, Robertson said.