Undergraduate enrollment dropped 3.6 percent, by more than 560,000 students, from the fall of 2019, according to a recent survey by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. First-time freshmen enrollment declined 13.1 percent.
The Chronicle'sThe Post-Pandemic Collegeexplores how colleges who were already reeling from dwindling public support and enrollment challenges are working to improve, especially as they face cuts to academic programs, structural re-organization, and budgeting challenges.
The Academic Enterprise:Futurist and senior scholar at Georgetown University Bryan Alexander predicts a bumpy ride that could include intensive campus testing for Covid-19, heavier teaching burdens, college closures, and possible layoffs.
The Student Experience:Gen Z has been deeply affected by the pandemic and the national reckoning over racial violence as they face a tough job market and increased mental-health issues, as explored with higher-education reporterKarin Fischer.
The Business Models of Colleges: The pandemic gives academe the push it needs to plan for a more sustainable future, as argued by Rick Staisloff, founder of the consulting firm rpk GROUP.
Enrollment:Colleges are facing increased challenges to survive in a hyper-competitive recruitment race, according toCornell B. LeSane II, the vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions at Allegheny College.
