UI To Focus On Boosting Enrollment

Faced with declining enrollment, the University of Idaho is making some changes to recruit and retain students.

President Robert Hoover announced Friday that Hal Godwin, vice president for student affairs and university relations, also is now associate provost for recruitment and retention.

Godwin also will oversee New Student Services, the Tutoring and Academic Assistance Center, Student Support Services and the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Meanwhile, Hoover will take on oversight of university and alumni relations, development and communications, until a new vice president for university advancement is hired this year.

In a prepared statement, Hoover said: “… Addressing enrollment growth will be our top institutional priority for the coming year.”

During the last two school years, enrollment dropped 5.6 percent or 1,205 students. Hoover has attributed the decline to rising tuition, increased competition for students and a sound national economy.

But, university officials also announced a record number of students - 3,321 - attended the recently completed summer session, up from a 1996 summer enrollment of 3,145.