Our eyes see one thing, but our ears were told the opposite.
When we asked enrollment services about the drop in enrollment we saw the first week of the semester, we were told it wasn’t one. It was not a drop.
This response created confusion. Anyone who can do basic math and subtraction could understand that about 7,000 students from fall 2012 were no longer enrolled in spring 2013.
The drop is clear to see.
We were adamantly told that the drop in enrollment from fall 2012 to spring 2013 is not considered an actual “drop” at all – that semesters are incomparable.
Then what does this shocking figure mean to the University when as students we can feel the effect of fewer students.
Hallways are less congested, parking is a less painful task and the line at Moe’s is shorter. The figure means the student body is 13 percent
smaller on the first day of spring than it was in August.
The drop is evident, yet it is said to be insignificant.
If this number is insignificant, then the reason must be insignificant. Contrary to what we were told, however, we believe this number is significant – and thus, we want to know the reason or reasons why students are migrating elsewhere.
Student complaints persist about University advising and financial aid – and these services are being compared to those of other schools to which students flee.
Shouldn’t the University strive to maintain enrollment? Maybe this is an unrealistic goal, but it could prevent such significant drops in future semesters.
Why must the statistic be treated in a “brushed-under-the-rug” manner? The number
is worth addressing and the cause worth further investigating. And the University will, in fact,
research the cause or causes of the dropping number.
We are told there is nothing shocking about this drop. We are told comparing the enrollment number of one semester to another is irrelevant.
Maybe this would have discouraged us from investigating these numbers further. Instead, we put these numbers into perspective.
This semester to semester drop is the steepest in the last four years – even when accounting for graduation.
Sometime between August 2012 and January 2013, 7,000 students put their FIU career on hold or have abandoned it completely.
This fact should not be undermined.Although the enrollment plan for the 2013–2014 school year allots for a decrease in enrollment due to budget cuts, the University will work toward growth in future years.
Thus, this drop should be taken into account for what it is – a drop.
In comparison to past semesters and past years, and in terms of the future, the cause or causes of dropping enrollment should be an issue addressed by the University, for the University.
Statistics should not be treated like exclusive information.
