University of Idaho battling enrollment decline

Two months after an announcement that overall enrollment at the University of Idaho was down 1.4 percent for the 2015-16 academic year, the institution’s provost and executive vice president, John Wiencek, announced he will take a more active role in enrollment management.

According to a statement Wiencek sent to UI faculty and staff last month, Wiencek has taken over the enrollment management duties – formerly the responsibility of Vice Provost for Student Affairs Jean Kim – to “improve communication” and “situational awareness” regarding student enrollment.

The university has made increasing enrollment 50 percent by 2024 its focus since President Chuck Staben took office in March 2014.

In the months since then, Staben has spearheaded a direct enrollment plan to save high school students the effort of filling out applications for Idaho universities, and the university has been hosting Enroll Idaho events at locations throughout the state where high school students can learn about what it takes to get into a higher education institution and the benefits of doing so.

Intended to raise enrollment of Idaho students, both programs began last fall, about the time enrollment numbers were released.

The UI boosted international student enrollment 45.9 percent and in-state freshman enrollment 1.2 percent for 2015-16, the university announced in November, but the numbers did not meet expectations.

“Enrollment growth is an extremely high priority for the University of Idaho,” Wiencek said in the statement. “While we are seeing some growth in out-of-state applications, we are concerned that our in-state applications are not at the level we would like to see.”

Kim was one of two new hires made to succeed Bruce Pitman, longtime vice-provost of student affairs and dean of students.

Wiencek came on board June 1 to relieve interim provost Kathy Aiken, who had held the position since Provost and Executive Vice President Doug Baker left the UI to become president of Northern Illinois University.

Kim, Wiencek and Staben were unavailable for comment on the changes.

Shanon Quinn can be reached at (208) 883-4636, or by email to squinn@dnews.com.

AP-WF-02-01-16 1421GMT