Wichita State posts biggest enrollment gain since 2002

[Kung Wu]

A co-worker of mine who is a KU alum told me they are trying to make their admissions standards higher, knowing they will lose in-state students and likely lower their overall numbers.

I don't think KU is going to spend any additional marketing dollars on students they would rather not see go to KU.

But those standards don't kick in until 2016, so that doesn't explain why their increased enrollment is weak compared with WSU right now. I realize that isn't your point at all Royal, I am just responding to your beaker buddy.

[Play Angry]

A co-worker of mine who is a KU alum told me they are trying to make their admissions standards higher, knowing they will lose in-state students and likely lower their overall numbers.

I don't think KU is going to spend any additional marketing dollars on students they would rather not see go to KU.

Good. That is a very, very expensive and risky move in the current higher ed climate. Midwestern state schools who try to spend their way up to a Big Ten-esque academic reputation usually (read: always) fail. Nobody will ever confuse KU with Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio State or Iowa on the prestige-whore-o-meter.

We stand a lot to gain in that scenario.

[Shocker-maniac]

It appears that the Innovations Campus approach is attracting a lot of interest and curiosity in the state. Once it begins to move from concept to bricks-and-mortar, tangible reality we likely will see even better enrollment results. This will begin in earnest next year with construction starting on as many as 3 to 4 buildings. The admissions staff have recently done college fairs in Kansas City and Chicago and they're seeing a lot of love for WSU.

[Shocker-maniac]

But those standards don't kick in until 2016, so that doesn't explain why their increased enrollment is weak compared with WSU right now. I realize that isn't your point at all Royal, I am just responding to your beaker buddy.

I think it's because people are realizing they no longer are the flagship basketball program in the state.

:poster_wu:

[MoValley John]

Good. That is a very, very expensive and risky move in the current higher ed climate. Midwestern state schools who try to spend their way up to a Big Ten-esque academic reputation usually (read: always) fail. Nobody will ever confuse KU with Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio State or Iowa on the prestige-whore-o-meter.

We stand a lot to gain in that scenario.

I've always thought raising tuition costs and spending more to attract "elite" students from out of state is a stupid idea. Moreover, I've always questioned how that strategy fits with a state public school's goals and original role of educating the citizenry of the state.

In the end, if the goal of Kansas University is not to educate people from Kansas, but to focus on drawing students from other states, why not just shut down?

[wufan]

I've always thought raising tuition costs and spending more to attract "elite" students from out of state is a stupid idea. Moreover, I've always questioned how that strategy fits with a state public school's goals and original role of educating the citizenry of the state.

In the end, if the goal of Kansas University is not to educate people from Kansas, but to focus on drawing students from other states, why not just shut down?

I generally agree with the above, BUT, one could attract out of state students to be educated to work in strong local industries. This would increase the local talent pool in strategic careers...not that KU is trying to accomplish this.