Enrollment Decline Spurs Retention Efforts

By Priscilla Stanley Pulse Staff Reporter

After another drop in enrollment, there is a new emphasis on the recruitment and retention of students at Palo Alto College.

A drop from 7,307 students in Fall `97 to 6,572 students in Fall `98, a total of 735 students, contributed to a $943,861 cut in available resources. As of Oct. 6, the Fall `99 enrollment was 6,465 students, 107 less than Fall `98, according to Rachel Marez, the Coordinator of Records and Reports.

No specific reason could be determined for the enrollment downturn, but Dr. L.S. Soliz, Executive Vice President of Palo Alto College, suggested the booming economy in San Antonio could be one cause. Families are focused on short-term financial gains rather than long-term career accomplishments. Other forces contributing to the slide may include the opening of UTSA Downtown and the accreditation of Northwest Vista College. Additionally, TASP mastery before college enrollment may have impacted enrollment as well.

To deal with the reduced budget, the administration cut back on areas that did not have an impact on instruction.

Palo Alto College is now focusing on what students want and need to ensure that enrollment stays constant. Maymester `99 is an example. This was the first three-week mini-semester that was filled with 14 course choices, according to Daniel Rodriguez, Chair of the Counseling Department. It was a risky endeavor because not many students were accustomed to taking courses during the break between Spring and Summer semesters, but the 193 students who enrolled made it successful.

Other non-traditional course options under consideration include a Decembermester, a more active evening schedule, weekend courses that lead to a degree, a midnight college for people who work nontraditional hours, eight-week flex classes on campus, Friday evening classes and more.

One group taking action is the Retention and Recruitment Task Force, a volunteer organization that is gathering new ideas from both faculty and students to help increase enrollment. The Task Force plans to improve the areas of curriculum, college environment, reconnection with the neighborhood, student environment, retention and registration/advisement.

New ideas include posting filled classes in the gym during registration so that students won't have to go through the hassle of rearranging their schedule, said Rodriguez.

Cancelled classes are another problem because of poor communication and last minute arrangements.

“I had a Psychology class that was cancelled, and I still have yet to be informed of it,” said Jason Reed, a sophomore Theater major, who was upset when he was the only one who attended the first day of class.

“The only thing that conceivably could impact the students would be if we had another precipitous drop and we lost another 1,000 students,” said Soliz. “Then, we may be talking about not having as many sections or courses available in the Spring.”

Students sometimes don't follow through with their plans of attending Palo Alto College because they believe that they can't afford the tuition, said Ginger Carnes, Director of Public Relations and the Chairperson of the Task Force. This summer, students who had unpaid balances received fliers informing them of Financial Aid, emergency loans, installment plans, and the option to pay by credit card.

Unfortunately, the fliers did not get to everyone. Angie Garcia, a freshman Education major, was dropped from her classes because someone from the Bursar's office told her that it would be okay to pay two days after the deadline. Garcia said she was willing to borrow money to pay by the deadline, if she had been given the correct information.

“They don't know what they're doing,” said Edward Wise, a sophomore English major, frustrated by his experience. “If you go to Administration or Financial Aid with a question that requires more than a yes or no answer, you're usually referred to someone who's not even in the office at the time.”

Many students prefer the convenience of online and voice registration. “They'll let you know online or on the phone if the classes you're taking are full,” said Monessa Esquivel, a sophomore Theater major. “I went to Texas Tech and they didn't even have online registration until this year.”

The Task Force is also interested in recruiting prospective students. About 150 students, faculty, and staff will go door to door to pass out fliers with registration, class and financial aid information to the nearby Palo Alto community, said Carnes. This Block Walking event will take place on Nov. 6, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Anyone who is interested in participating may contact Carnes at 921-5266.

The recruitment of future students also begins at an early age. Palo Alto College now sends student mentors to read to the children at Bob Hope Elementary and Palo Alto Elementary. Palo Alto College is also starting a new writing mentor program at Kindred Elementary. These are good methods of capturing the students' attention and pointing them in the direction of a college education while they're young, said Soliz.

“We've got to...get more of our citizens to participate in higher education so that they can improve their own quality of life,” said Soliz. “Then the economic development opportunities will follow, and that's the bottom line.”

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