The Metropolitan State University Board of Trustees on Friday applauded better-than-expected fall enrollment numbers as members highlighted strategic new approaches the University is taking to retain students and recruit new ones from a shrinking pool of prospects.
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“The enrollment trends (this fall) are promising,” Trustee Russell Noles said at the board’s September meeting in the Jordan Student Success Building. “But all institutions of higher education are facing a ‘demographic cliff’ in the next five years.” |
That cliff, which refers to a significant drop in the college-age population, means universities across the country will be competing for fewer applicants. With that reality looming, MSU Denver is focused on student retention, which increased 1.3% over the past year thanks to student-success initiatives, Noles said.
The University is also expanding its participation in the Western Undergraduate Exchange program, known as WUE, in an effort to make MSU Denver more accessible to out-of-state students and get tuition rates in alignment with peers.
WUE offers students in 14 Western states and other locales reduced tuition at public institutions in participating states. MSU Denver is a member of the program, which will add 11 more Midwestern states and is an important step in helping the University achieve its 2030 enrollment goal of 19,000 students, Noles said.
About 4% of MSU Denver undergraduates are out-of-state students. If the University were to increase that percentage to just 10% — still far below percentages at other state universities — it would see more than $15 million in additional revenue, he added.
“We’ve got to expand our pool of students beyond the seven-county metro area,” he said.
Enrollment increase
Noles’ finance report to the board referenced the Office of Enrollment Management’s recently finalized fall numbers, which show a 2% enrollment increase over last year, despite challenges and delays that emerged following the release of a new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
While applications were down nearly 5%, more students progressed through the admissions process and registered, said Chief Enrollment Officer Long Huynh, DBA.
“That tells us that our efforts to streamline our enrollment process are working,” he said, adding that more detail about the fall census, the University’s annual measure of enrollment trends, will be released soon in the Early Bird.
Campus Climate Survey findings
In other business, Michael Benitez, Ph.D., vice president of Diversity and Inclusion, shared the results of MSU Denver’s latest Campus Climate Survey, aimed at evaluating the experiences of faculty members, staff members and students in terms of diversity, equity and inclusion.
According to the survey, participants report:
- Sense of belonging: Most participants feel welcomed on campus; however, veterans, Latino and gender-expansive individuals report needing additional support.
- DEI commitment: Faculty and staff members are highly engaged in DEI efforts but are asking for more time and resources to advance this work.
- Representation: There has been an increase in the presence of people with disabilities and those who identify as LGBTQ+, though they report lower levels of belonging.
- Discrimination: Discrimination based on race, age and political beliefs continues to affect marginalized groups.
- Work preferences: Faculty and staff seek more flexibility in their roles, while students request more course options to better accommodate their schedules.
These findings will guide the University’s efforts to create a more inclusive campus environment, Benitez said.
MSU Denver’s economic impact
Andrea Smith, associate vice president of Strategic Communications, reported to the board that the University generated nearly $1 billion in economic impact across Colorado during the last fiscal year. That figure represents a significant increase from $703.4 million in 2019. For every $1 invested by the state, the University returns $11.52. The full report is available at msudenver.edu/economic-impact.
The University’s impact grew despite national and global challenges over the past five years, including the Covid-19 pandemic and high inflation.
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“We grew our impact by 36%, well outpacing the rate of inflation,” Smith said. “We are operating efficiently and should be really proud of that.” |
Additional Board of Trustees highlights:
- Higher-education funding: Vice President of Government Affairs Kaycee Gerhart broke down Colorado’s revised higher-education funding model, which is based on enrollment, graduation rates and support for underrepresented students.
- Credit rating: Trustees received a report on the reaffirmation of the University’s credit rating by Moody’s, supported by continued enrollment growth and modest outstanding debt. CFO Jim Carpenter discussed plans to bolster reserves and manage future debt with cash flow.
- Social-mobility rankings: Directors of Strategy and Data & Analytics presented findings on social-mobility rankings, with CollegeNet’s Social Mobility Index identified as most aligned with MSU Denver’s mission.
- Career readiness: Interim Deputy Provost Jeffrey Newcomer outlined plans to enhance career-readiness programming that aligns with the University’s strategic goals.
- New trustee: Chair Kristin Hultquist welcomed new Alumni Trustee Amber Mozet, a 2006 MSU Denver graduate and human-resources manager at Tepeyac Community Health Center. Mozet is president of the MSU Denver Alumni Association board.
