FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        February 12, 2007

ENROLLMENT DECREASE CARRIES OVER INTO SPRING SEMESTER

            A decrease in enrollment during the fall semester of 2006 has affected enrollment in spring semester classes at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

            In a preliminary report to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Northwestern said total headcount enrollment for the current spring semester is 1,889 students, a drop of 141 students or 6.9 percent from the same time in 2006.

            Overall headcount in the fall semester of 2006 dropped 4.4 percent and university officials believe that the effects from that decrease have carried over into the current spring semester.

            “We currently face numerous challenges when it comes to enrollment,” said Dr. Janet Cunningham, president of Northwestern. “Our state’s economy continues to remain very strong, leading to a strong supply of jobs; however, this has not led to an increase in population across northwest Oklahoma, where the vast majority of our students come from.”

            Cunningham said a new enrollment management plan that was designed by the University and the national enrollment management consulting firm Noel-Levitz is now being implemented and she is encouraged by the new focus on enrollment being demonstrated on campus.

            “Every person at Northwestern, our alumni and every citizen in our campus communities plays a role in the recruitment and retention process,” said Cunningham.

            Cunningham also believes recent initiatives such as raising the scholarship cap for freshmen will make Northwestern more appealing in the eyes of prospective students and their families.

            “When you combine the quality of our academic programs and our outstanding scholarship program, Northwestern becomes a very attractive college option,” Cunningham said.

            Spring semester enrollment at the main campus in Alva totaled 1,191 students, down 132 from last spring’s mark of 1,323.

            Enrollment also decreased slightly at Northwestern-Enid with 415 students enrolled, 16 less than a year ago.

            Enrollment at Northwestern-Woodward was virtually unchanged from last spring with 177 students enrolling for the current semester, one less than last spring.

            Northwestern also has 130 students enrolled at outreach sites, mainly in Ponca City, and 51 high school students enrolled in concurrent classes.

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

-NW-

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