As overall enrollment declines, freshman enrollment spikes

The class of 2018 -- 825 new freshmen -- is the smallest enrollment at Winston-Salem State since the 2011 spring semester.

WSSU projected 700 freshman for the 2014-2015 academic year.

"Overall enrollment is about 150 less than last year due to a combination of things: a large graduation class and number of students with financial needs greater than the amount of aid available," said Provost Brenda Allen in an email correspondence with The News Argus.

Previously, a Pell Grant recipient was eligible to receive funds for up to nine years; now the grant is limited to six years or 12 semesters.

According to a report on the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities website, as government funding is cut, some colleges and universities respond by eliminating courses, student organizations/clubs and raising tuition to cover the gap.

Colleges and universities in eight states reduced funding per student, with the deepest cuts in Wyoming, West Virginia, Louisiana, Wisconsin and North Carolina.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities stats show that the tuition at N.C. public colleges and universities increased approximately by

34.6 percent.

According to the WSSU website, 86 percent of undergraduates receive financial aid.

The website also says that 75 percent of undergraduates are Black; 16 percent are White; 2 percent are Hispanic; and 7 percent other.

"When the pool [incoming freshmen] offers a larger number as it did this year and in 2012, we will take more than 700. But we will not sacrifice quality for a greater number,"Allen said.

"The enrollment decisions are a result of a great deal of research on trends at WSSU in the state and the nation. Nothing is left simply to chance."

This past summer WSSU, merged the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business and Economics and the School of Education an Human Performance into one college to save the University $1.2 million.

"The merging of the college and schools was driven by academics and administrative needs. Saving resources is an additional plus," Allen said.

Other schools in the UNC System are making adjustments as well.

According to CPBB, UNC-Chapel Hill eliminated 493 positions, increased class sizes, cut its centrally supported computer labs from seven to three, and eliminated two distance education centers.