UH student enrollment
up 3.6 percent

But a drop is possible if military
units are deployed, officials say

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By Treena Shapiro
tshapiro@starbulletin.com

For only the second time in seven years, the University of Hawaii has recorded an increase in student enrollment this semester, according to a preliminary report released yesterday.

The report shows there are 46,198 students enrolled in the UH system this semester, a 3.6 percent increase from 44,587 a year earlier. When the final count is taken, perhaps next week, UH officials expect the 1,611 increase over last year to be slightly lower as some students withdraw from classes.

A more significant drop is possible if active-duty and reserve military units are deployed in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, officials say. Last year, about 3,000 military students were enrolled across the UH system, with half at the flagship Manoa campus.

Since student numbers peaked at 51,677 in 1994, enrollment has dropped more than 10 percent to 46,198. A Hawaii Education Policy Center report released last month indicates that more high school graduates chose out-of-state or private Hawaii schools, and fewer nonresidents chose the state's only public university.

However, the new enrollment figures suggest there has been a greater influx of nonresident students this year.

"This is the first time in a few years that all the campuses have had an increase," said Mike Rota, community college vice chancellor for student affairs.

With almost 25,000 students, community colleges serve more than half of the university's student population. This is the first semester that students at the community colleges must pay for every credit they take, rather than only the first 12. But Rota said only 25 percent of community college students take more than 12 credits. "There was no increase for a majority of students," he said.

Rota credits better student recruitment and retention with the increase, as well as a slowing national economy. "When their work assignments slow down, people find that they have more time to enroll in classes," he said.

UH President Evan Dobelle anticipates that enrollment will continue to rise due to economic effects of the Sept. 11 attacks. He has pledged to assist the state by providing tuition waivers and developing job retraining programs for those who lose their jobs or are furloughed in the aftermath.

Eligibility and the application process will not be known until the proposal goes before the Board of Regents next month, Rota said.

Janice Heu, interim director of admissions and records at UH-Manoa, said tuition increases almost every year since 1996 contributed to previous enrollment declines, "but we worked hard to be able to recruit and retain students, and hopefully it's finally paying off."

At Kauai Community College, which saw the highest-percentage increase at 10.4 percent, Dean of Student Services Earl Nishiguchi said he has noticed a larger number of transfer students.

"(It is a) significant increase from prior years," he said. "It seems to be, people who have gone to other schools are coming back to KCC."

Associated Students of the University of Hawaii President Travis Mimura said the increased enrollment was a good sign. "I'm really glad to hear that enrollment is going up," he said. "I hope that means we're encouraging students to return to Hawaii and encouraging the out-of-state students to come and experience what we have to offer."

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Ka Leo O Hawaii
University of Hawaii