Mount Oread Messenger: October 2, 2020

Examining KU's fall enrollment Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( [Mount Oread Messenger]( Good morning! Yesterday, KU and the Kansas Board of Regents revealed that while enrollment for the fall semester did fall across the board due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was not nearly as drastic as higher education experts — and KU officials themselves — had predicted it could be. Overall, KU's enrollment fell by just under 3%. The state's flagship university enrolled a total of 27,619 students enrolled across all of its campuses, a decrease of 804 students from 2019. Earlier in the pandemic, higher education officials — including KU Chancellor Douglas Girod — had publicly predicted enrollment could fall by anywhere from 8 to 12%. And at one point in mid-May, KU's largest school, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, told faculty members that its [credit hour enrollment at that time was 12% lower]( than at the same point a year prior. Between then and now, something obviously changed to convince more students to enroll, or to come back, even among the uncertainty of an unprecedented global health crisis. *** But that doesn't mean all of the numbers were encouraging for KU. In particular, the university highlighted two metrics where it's concerned about a significant decrease, and therefore a significant and extended financial fallout: international student enrollment and first-time freshmen enrollment. International students, which have to pay the highest rate of tuition and required fees at the university, saw enrollment dip by just over 18% for the fall semester, which accounted for over half of the 804 student decrease. First-time freshmen also saw enrollment drop by just over 7%, a figure which includes a 29.3% drop in freshmen international students. This figure, KU said, contributed to over a third of the 804 student decrease. Read today's featured story to see why Girod is still concerned about KU's finances, especially because of those two student categories. *** According to KBOR data, here’s how KU compares to the other Regents institutions in 2020 enrollment totals by overall headcount: • KU: 24,629 students in 2019 to 23,964 students in 2020, a 2.7% decrease • Emporia State University: 5,877 students in 2019 to 5,828 students in 2020, a 0.8% decrease • Fort Hays State University: 15,908 students in 2019 to 15,033 students in 2020, a 5.5% decrease • Kansas State University: 21,252 students in 2019 to 20,377 students in 2020, a 4.1% decrease • Pittsburg State University: 6,645 students in 2019 to 6,398 students in 2020, a 3.7% decrease • Wichita State University: 16,058 students in 2019 to 15,550 students in 2020, a 3.2% decrease *** One more thing: A reminder that since it's Friday, KU will release new [COVID-19 testing numbers]( and a new short-term forecast from its Pandemic Medical Advisory Team. That's all for this week — see you on Monday! [Students]( [Overall enrollment at KU falls 2.7% due to COVID-19 pandemic, declines in international and freshman enrollment]( While the final 2020 numbers were likely a relief to KU officials, there are two areas that could spell trouble for the university's finances in the years to come, Chancellor Douglas Girod warned Thursday. [Read the full story here]( EVENTS TO KEEP AN EYE ON - Friday, October 2: KU's International Student Services will host a virtual town hall from 5 to 7 p.m. to discuss a new proposed federal rule that would set new limits on the length of time an international student or scholar may stay in the United States. [(Zoom information here)]( - Friday, October 2: KU volleyball takes on #1 Texas in the second leg of the teams' two season meetings. To limit travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Big 12 conference, which plays a double round robin format for conference play, will play both home and away matches consecutively this season at the same location. The Longhorns beat the Jayhawks in straight sets Thursday. Friday's first serve is set for 7 p.m. in Austin. - Saturday, October 3: KU football takes on Oklahoma State at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in its 2020 Homecoming Game. The Jayhawks are winless on the season at 0-2 after losing at Baylor last weekend 47-14. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN — only 10,000 fans will be allowed to attend due to COVID-19. IN OTHER KU NEWS [21 more COVID-19 cases confirmed at KU, percentage of symptomatic patients testing positive again falls]( KU on Tuesday confirmed another 21 cases of COVID-19 since it last released data on Friday, and the cumulative case total at Kansas’ flagship university now sits at 971. The percentage of people exhibiting virus symptoms testing positive also fell below 10% for the first time. [Sign]( [John Hadl, legendary KU football player and university advocate, given lifetime achievement award by KU Alumni Association]( Hadl, one of only three players in the history of football at the University of Kansas to have his number retired and a decades-long leader in Kansas Athletics’ Williams Education Fund, was announced this week as the recipient of the Fred Ellsworth Medallion, the highest honor awarded by the KU Alumni Association. [John Hadl]( If you enjoy the Mount Oread Messenger, you can [subscribe to receive it here.]( To reach Mount Oread Messenger author Conner Mitchell, please email cmitchell@ljworld.com or call 785-832-6388. Tips can also be submitted at [Conner's tip form]( or at his secure email address,[connermitchell@protonmail.com](mailto:connermitchell@protonmail.som). 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