Student Enrollment/ COVID-19

Student enrollment has become one of the most discussed topics amongst admissions offices. As the pandemic continues to have an affect, universities are seeing a decline in student enrollment. The University of Lynchburg has seen the impact of COVID-19 affecting student enrollment in numerous ways.

One evident change that the University has seen, is the number of students enrolled. The ongoing pandemic has forced many families and students to reconsider their post secondary education choices. In addition to the pandemic, COVID has discouraged students who may be interested in returning to college with the fate of so many which leaves numerous campus operations still in question.

As the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly spread across the world early last year, admission offices from universities wondered what this could mean for colleges and universities. Universities were not too keen on shutting down campuses and adapting to virtual learning which feared incoming and international students altering their plans to apply to college entirely.

Despite the pandemic being the main factor in students' decision on their university choices, which has affected the university’s decrease in student enrollment. Students have expressed their concerns and attitudes towards pandemic forcing the university into virtual learning.

Lynchburg freshman, Julia Burrier, expressed her first year and the negative impact COVID has had on her enrollment here saying, “It was mostly just rapidly pivoting to virtual learning on google-meet. It wasn’t a very good experience. The incoming freshmen that are coming in are going to be very concerned about starting their first year virtually.”

Students are now deciding whether or not they want to enroll in their desired school or stay close to home and attend a community college. As students turn to online education or choosing to attend community college, universities such as the University of Lynchburg are having to look at how they can still keep their students and how they can continue to increase enrollment.

The pandemic has also created a new reality for first-year students and international students. These challenges include the recruitment process, limiting college visits due to COVID-19 protocols and students adjusting to online classes and not being able to have the in person college experience. In addition to the recruitment process, it has led to the majority of the decline coming from first-year students and international students.

Although first-year students or international students want to experience the college life at their desired school it still leaves room for uncertainty or students opting out of their desired school because of COVID-19. With the ongoing pandemic showing no signs of going away this leads to students and their families asking themselves the big question and that question; is should parents decide whether or not they should enroll their child(ren) at a university or simply save money and attend community college and take online classes.

Over the years, the University of Lynchburg has been on track in becoming one of the most prestigious colleges in Central Virginia. Even though it is a small institution the University of Lynchburg has seen some spikes in student enrollment in the past six years.

In Fall 2019, there were 2956 students enrolled at the University, however by spring 2020, enrollment fell to 2701. The pandemic caused an even greater decrease in the school’s overall student enrollment, enrollment fell to 2660 in Spring 2021.

The table below shows, one can see that in fall 2015 there were 1980 full-time undergraduates and 161 part-time students. In the following semester the University had a slight decrease in student enrollment going from 1980 undergraduates to 1841 undergraduate students but yet has seen a significant increase in the number of part-time students going from 161 to 179. On the other hand, the University saw an increase in the number of full-time students enrolled in the Fall of 2016 from 1841 to 1938 students but yet a decrease in part-time students enrolled from 179 to 141. Whereas in Spring 2017, the University admissions office saw a dramatic decrease from 1938 to 1780 in student enrollment yet saw an 141 to 173 increase in undergraduates part-time.

As with many colleges and universities around the country, the pandemic has affected enrollment at Lynchburg. As the country began dealing with the effects of the coronavirus, the university in Spring 2020 sent students home and began virtual classes.Although this was a new experience for students, faculty and staff members it was ultimately a tough situation to adjust to and it was a hard decision to make.

As a result, some students elected to not return to the school the following semester and some have chosen to give college a try after the pandemic settles down. The university is seeing a little increase at times yet admissions is beginning to see a trend with a decrease within the student enrollment at the university.

To put this into perspective, fall 2018 the university saw undergraduate students 1930 and 156 graduate students enrolled then saw 1803 undergraduate students and 138 students enrolled in spring 2019.

Also, the number of part-time students have also dramatically decreased from 85 to 58 then the Spring semester 2021 seeing a huge increase going from 58 to 110 part-time students. It is evident that the university is seeing a continuous decrease trend with student enrollment. Although the school is seeing some glimpses of light within the student enrollment yet it is more a dramatic decline from year to year.

The University of Lynchburg admissions office is responsible for recruiting and communicating with new students from a variety of venues. Also, the members within the admissions office are assigned and responsible for connecting with students in one particular region or state within the United States or a foreign county. The university's student enrollment has increased yet decreased with the global pandemic being a major factor.

Vice President for Enrollment Management and Enrollment Services, Rita Detweiler, said “Last year’s class that entered fall 2020 was lower than previous years. We enrolled 506 new freshmen and transfer students. A lower enrollment was experienced by many colleges and universities across the country as families were concerned and uncertain about the impact of COVID - 19.”

Admissions at Lynchburg has been working tirelessly to ensure the university was reaching as many students as possible. Senior Associate Director of Admissions, Dara Logan, said “We have been open to potential students and their families since July 2020. Students and their families could plan a campus visit following all safety protocols and we limited the number of guests. We hosted many virtual events throughout the year. We also hosted our very important Scholarship Competition Days virtually throughout the fall and spring” said Logan.

The University of Lynchburg has been continuous working with students in their enrollment process. Assistant Director of Admissions, Maggie Flynn, talked about some things that the admissions office has done to give prospective students the “open house” experience? Flynn explained that the admissions office and the University has hosted events for prospective students. “We hosted 5 Admitted Open House Events called “Day on the Dell” and students had the opportunity to tour campus, attend academic information sessions, and learn about life on campus, opportunities and housing.”

Director of Admissions, Sharon Walters-Bower, talked about how the admissions office noticed an increase or decrease in international students enrollments. “Yes, we have experienced a decrease in international student enrollment. Again, this decrease was experienced by many institutions across the country.”

Additionally, Detweiler explained if there is anything the admissions office has had to change that has benefitted the college. “Yes, in our recruitment process, we had to add a host of virtual events that we did not offer before. This turned out to be a tool that we launched for the first time and it opened up unlimited opportunities for presenting information and engaging prospective students and their families, said Detwiler.”

Senior Associate Director of Admissions, Logan, was asked about having the admissions notice an increase in enrollment students from fall to spring semester. Logan stated that, “the Admissions did experience a slight increase of new students who enrolled from Fall to Spring 21. We had 44 new students begin their enrollment in spring 21.”

Admission officer, Taylor Havlu, stated “As a captain in the admissions department, I have seen a major decrease in the student enrollment here, the pandemic has made the enrollment process very difficult. But I think the University is doing a great job in adapting to the circumstance in which we are experiencing. I completely understand the circumstances that we are faced with right now yet the goal is still to engage and make the international and first-year students process easier and less stressful for them.” You can this in the audio here: https://soundcloud.com/jared-hargis-827167625/enrollment-interview

With colleges and universities offering vaccinations and other incentives, this gives institutions hope that the worst of the pandemic may be put in the past. Additionally, in offering other incentives this gives universities hope that incoming students and returning students enrolled in the university. Keeping this in mind, the question that remains is; what can colleges do to regain their enrollments for the fall and spring semesters ?

“The opportunity presented itself that the University could provide a laptop to a new freshman who had filed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This opportunity levels the playing field among students for learning. All new students will have reliable tools to complete their learning objectives. Some students will not have the current technology to successfully complete their assignments and it places them at a disadvantage among their peers. Completion of the FAFSA is an important step in the financial aid process. Once complete, FAFSA allows the university to allocate financial aid based on the financial need of the family” said Detweiler.

For universities, regaining their enrollment back from past semesters is an impossible yet difficult task to complete, this leaves institutions wondering and figuring out alternative approaches to make up for the lost ground. Not only does this leave a degree of uncertainty for students but also creates an uncertainty with colleges and universities.

In addition to this, it’s a critical and challenging time for the nation as well, due to the fact that the economy needs community and universities colleges to be operating successfully because they are the front entrance for a lot of students. Especially for students who come from traditionally underserved households, we need and want the opportunity to begin their higher education journeys at their desired university.

Havlu also expressed how the university is keeping incoming students from feeling discouraged. The university is continuing to work with students in achieving their dreams of enrolling at the University of Lynchburg. “Although the process has been difficult at times due to the global pandemic, we are still committed in working with students in helping them feel safe as well giving them the best chance to succeed despite COVID”

With the pandemic continuing, the future of in-person education remains uncertain. Admissions offices are faced with a lot of budgetary pressure to meet enrollment goals to keep schools ahead while prospective students have begun to decline. With high school students delaying their college plans amidst the uncertainty, families are constantly questioning whether it is the best option to send their children away to school or have them attend community college closer to home.

Although the pandemic has been a major factor in the decrease in enrollment, it is evident that the University’s decline in enrollment is coming from international students and first-year students who are deciding to not attend their desired colleges. In addition to this, the pandemic has added and made the enrollment process more difficult than ever before incoming students .

The pandemic has shown that it has played a major role in the decrease in student enrollment. From previous years, the pandemic has not only forced students into a difficult decision as to whether or not they want to stay close to home or live on campus but has forced schools to change from their normal ways but also attempting to persuade students to attend their university. The ongoing and controversial questions that remain is; what can colleges do to regain their enrollments for the fall and spring semesters ? And how can colleges and universities prevent the declining in student enrollment despite being a global pandemic?