Enrollment Projection Up

VINCENNES, IND. (WTHI) -       A southern Indiana college gets some good projections on future enrollment.

     Vincennes University officials say they are seeing a lot more applications from future students than in the past.

     The college feels they might even wind up reversing a trend that sees an enrollment decline in the spring semester.

     Vincennes University students are wrapping up the fall semester.

     Most years the enrollment would decrease heading into the spring because of midterm graduations and drop outs.

     This is not a typical year though.

     Officials in the admissions office say applications are on the rise.

     "It's pretty typical that the spring enrollment will end up being about 90 percent of the fall enrollment," said Vincennes University President Dr. Richard Helton, "but I think there's a possibility we'll exceed that number in the spring."

     The college has become more aggressive in recruiting students, especially when it comes to getting them to visit campus.

     "We have more than doubled the number of people who have come to our campus because of our new approach," said Dr. Helton.

     A growing enrollment is good news for more than the University.

  It's good news for the entire community.

  First, those students come to town and they spend a lot of money at local businesses, but that impact goes even further.
 
     "Whenever V.U. is successful that means our community is successful," said Marc McNeece with the Knox County Chamber of Commerce.  "Students have a direct correlation to how many jobs V.U. can provide.  How many jobs are available in our workforce in general."

     Even though the actual enrollment numbers won't be available until after the first of the year, the projections of more students at a time when things normally decline will be a plus for both the campus and the community.

     V.U. officials say early indications are that the enrollment growth will continue into the fall semester of 2013.