The Kent Campus Enrollment is Intended to Grow in the Future

POSTED: Sep. 18, 2017

University leadership believes that student enrollment will continue to grow for the next decade, and the campus master plan must prepare the campus for this enrollment growth. The master plan anticipates about 9 percent growth in the on-campus Kent Campus student population, with both undergraduates and graduate populations growing. The university anticipates approximately 2,600 additional students on the Kent Campus taking classes, parking, sleeping, eating, and recreating.

Most colleges are expected to grow. The College of Education, Health and Human Services, the Humanities portion of the College of Arts and Sciences, and the College of Communication and Information will remain Kent Campus’s largest colleges. But the Colleges of the Arts (18%), Communication and Information (12%), Public Health (12%), Architecture (11%), and Business Administration (10%) will lead the pace of enrollment growth.

Given the Kent Campus’s historic enrollment growth and the emergence of academic programs that regionally and nationally distinguish KSU, does exceeding 30,000 students on the Kent Campus seem reasonable?

Comments

"Continued growth is not"

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 09/26/2017 - 10:33am

Mark Kretovics: Continued growth is not likely because of the demographic decline in our target markets. Instead of planning for growth we really need to consider flat enrollments or potentially a modest decline, especially if our graduation rates improve.

"Kevin S.: I'd like to know"

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/19/2017 - 11:27am

Kevin S.: I'd like to know more about Mark's comment. Could the growth be projected due to a reshifting of targets, or the tailoring of programs to less traditional students? Could growth also be virtual through programs such as the RN to BSN program? Could specialized degree-completion programs drive enrollment (and revenue?) (Continued ...)

"(Continued ...) Regardless,"

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 11/19/2017 - 11:27am

(Continued ...) Regardless, space has become an issue on Kent's campus over the past 15 years. Enrollment spiked in 2008-2011, and very little has been done to ensure there's enough space for students. Centrally located parking has been reduced in favor of optics, living space has been converted to offices, and density has increased steadily in housing. Even if growth stagnates or sinks modestly, students need more space (living and parking) to be attracted to KSU.

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