FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          September 20, 2006

NORTHWESTERN REPORTS SMALLER FALL SEMESTER ENROLLMENT

            A booming job market in the energy sector and smaller graduating classes in area high schools are likely factors for a small decrease in fall semester enrollment at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

            In a preliminary report to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Northwestern said total headcount enrollment was 2,010 students for the fall semester, compared with 2,078 students at the same time in 2005, a decrease of 4.35 percent.

            This semester marks the sixth consecutive year that fall enrollment at Northwestern has surpassed the 2,000 student mark.

            “It appears that other public institutions across the state are experiencing similar enrollment decreases, a trend that usually accompanies periods of strong economic growth like we are experiencing currently in Oklahoma,” said Dr. Janet Cunningham, president of Northwestern. “In addition to the economic factors, all major demographic studies point to a shrinking pool of Oklahoma high school graduates now and in years to come, particularly in rural Oklahoma. These facts clearly indicate we will have to strengthen efforts to attract and retain students.”

            Cunningham said a task force addressing enrollment has been working for more than a year to develop a comprehensive enrollment management plan and that consultations with a national firm on the subject have been ongoing for several months. She said many of the firm’s recommendations already have been implemented, even though the final draft of the plan is not expected until November.

            “We are going to be proactive when it comes to enrollment,” Cunningham said.

            Enrollment at the main campus in Alva is 1,279 students, down from last year’s figure of 1,393 students.

            Both of Northwestern’s branch campuses also showed small decreases in enrollment. Northwestern-Enid enrolled 413 students, compared with 426 a year ago, while Northwestern-Woodward reported 187 students, down nine students from a year ago.

            Two areas that did experience enrollment gains include Northwestern’s outreach sites, mainly in Ponca City, that grew to 149 students, up 15 from a year ago, and also enrollment among high school students in concurrent classes, that totaled 51 students, an increase of 21.

            The sum of Northwestern campus enrollments is slightly larger than the total headcount because some students take classes at multiple sites.

-NW-

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