Fall enrollment still uncertain

Next fall’s enrollment numbers are still murky, according to admissions.
“The number of applications has been high this year,” said Vice President of Admissions Wallace Anderson, “But there is no way to tell if people have committed to the school until their enrollment deposits are in.” Getting prospective students to pay these deposits is top priority for Anderson.
The admissions deadline is May 1st. According to Jeff Hall, Vice President for Academic Affairs, if changes to the budget need to be made, they will be made after all deposits come in. “It’s hard to tell how many will come, we’re still a little in the dark,” said Hall.
After enrollment numbers are more solid, Covenant will know better how to progress with rightsizing initiatives set to be enacted this summer.
On May 15, faculty and staff will gather for a meeting to discover which individuals and programs have been rightsized, according to Hall. A press release will follow later that day.
Schools across the country are experiencing the same effects of the economic situation, according to Hall and Anderson. “Every college like us is having trouble,” Hall said of making projections for the next year. Current predictions of enrollment rely on historical data, which doesn’t work well for the situation many colleges are in due to the economy. “These are untested waters,” Anderson said.
According to Anderson, prospective students need to know the cost of a Covenant education is worth it. “People are more educated consumers,” said Anderson, “and we need to be able to answer their questions.” Even the Financial Aid office has been putting in a lot of work in admissions efforts, said Anderson.
The recently-enacted strategic plan directly addresses the need for improved marketing to high schoolers. The plan emphasizes improved communication of Covenant’s mission. It also seeks to make the college more prominent to PCA students.