University creates enrollment task force

Enrollment goals analyzed at Board meeting, Aramark contract extended

February 20, 2006 —

Student enrollment trends have caused the University administration to create a task force to reconsider its enrollment targets, President Eric R. Gilbertson said at last Monday's Board of Control regular formal session.

Gilbertson and other administration members shared a progress report on the University's four-year plan at the session, outlining where its enrollment targets have fallen short and why.

A goal within the plan was to have an enrollment of 10,232 for the fall semester of 2008, an 8.3 percent increase from 2004, when the plan was created. Fall enrollment increased just 1.28 percent last semester, however, and winter enrollment fell 0.6 percent this year.

Gilbertson and Robert L. Maurovich, vice president for student services and enrollment management, explained that the below-expected increase in the fall and decrease in the winter was a result of a decline in graduate enrollment and international student retention rates. Undergraduate enrollment increased this year (2.88 percent in the fall and 0.89 percent this winter), so the task force will focus on graduate programs and international students.

The low graduate enrollment levels were a result of a decline in both the non-education graduate and teacher certification programs, which fell by 1.27 percent and 13.74 percent, respectively, in the fall. Similarly, the programs declined by 7.34 percent and 7.06 percent, respectively, for this semester.

The decline in the teacher certification program was a direct result of the job market for teachers, Gilbertson said.

Additionally, enrollment in the education graduate program increased by just 12 students in the fall and decreased by 115 this winter. The goal was to increase enrollment in the program by 7.1 percent, or 98 students, by 2008.

Gilbertson said at the meeting that the problems within the graduation program could not have been foreseen and it will be the task force's responsibility to adjust to the changes.

Also at the meeting, the Board set the salary for Donald Bachand, incoming vice president for academic affairs. The Board sets the salaries for the president and vice presidents of the University, and approved the proposed salary of $155,000 for Bachand.

Additionally, the Board extended the University's dining services contract with Aramark to 2015.

According to James G. Muladore, vice president for administration and business affairs, Aramark agreed to provide capital for the two recent dining services projects (the RFoC and Einstein's Eatery construction) in exchange for a contract extension.

Muladore said the contract had been extended to 2012 after a similar donation from Aramark several years ago.

"We have had a strong long-term relationship with this company," Gilbertson said. "We have been pleased with the service and staff it has provided."

The Board also passed a resolution to affirm its compliance with reporting guidelines put forth by the state in regards to capital programs involving more than $1 million.

The state's Joint Capital Outlay Subcommittee decided that it will be responsible for the review of each state university's projects that exceed $1 million and requested on Nov. 1 that each university's board adhere to the guideline.

According to Gilbertson, SVSU already followed the guidelines and the resolution was simply procedural.

"This resolution affirms that we will continue to comply with what we already comply with," he explained.

Finally, the Board approved a resolution to approve the University's natural gas purchase agreements, allowing the administration to enter into purchase contracts with the state for natural gas.

According to Muladore, SVSU's contract with the state expires in June. The price for gas has dropped tremendously since the administration last entered into contract discussions several monts ago, he added, so the University could see "potentially significant savings" in that area if it were to extend its contract until 2009 as the resolution stated.

"We are moving in response to a volatile market," Gilbertson explained. "We're asking you to trust us on this."

The Board's next formal session will be Monday, March 13 at 1:30 p.m.