By SCARLET MASON | Staff Reporter
WSU Vancouver’s overall fall 2024 enrollment suffered a 2% decline compared to fall 2023, with a total of 2,700 students enrolled this term — 56 fewer than the 2,756 who enrolled in fall 2023.
The latest figures were released in a systemwide report showing WSU Vancouver’s declining headcount was part of a widespread phenomenon but also in contrast to a few other WSU campuses. Everett and Tri-Cities campuses saw total enrollment increases, while WSU Global, Spokane, and Pullman campuses saw declines of 4.3%, 4.8%, and 3.5%, respectively, causing the university’s combined campuses to experience an average enrollment decrease of 3%.
Significantly, however, WSU Vancouver marked a 4.3% decline in freshman enrollment, with 376 freshmen compared to 393 in fall 2023 – this while Tri-Cities saw freshmen enrollment balloon by 16 percent. The number of WSU students enrolled in a semester matters because paid tuition is a prime source of revenue for the university and funds campus amenities and resources.
Despite these statistics, Dr. Domanic Vanthom, WSU Vancouver’s vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment and deputy Title IX coordinator, expressed optimism that WSU Vancouver will recruit more students from colleges known to funnel students to the university, such as Clark College. Many Clark College students opt to transfer to WSU Vancouver to complete the last two years of their four-year degree. These “feeder schools” have seen enrollment stabilization, which Dr. Vanthom said suggests that in 2025 or 2026, WSU Vancouver could see an increase in enrollment.
“If your feeder schools are growing and stabilizing, you reap that benefit. Not that year,” Vanthom said.
Although optimistic about transfer students, Vanthom explained that WSU Vancouver is making changes to incentivize enrollment.
Plans include remodeling the WSUV website to be more appealing to students and easier to navigate. Vanthom also highlighted a new university initiative, the Guaranteed Admission Program, aimed at increasing communication between potential transfer students at Clark College and WSUV. This program allows Clark College students to receive advising and support from WSUV advisors while still attending community college. Students are invited to programs and events and can ensure their coursework meets the prerequisites for their intended WSUV major, guaranteeing admission upon transfer.
While the website remodel, potential future transfer student increase, and Guaranteed Admission Program are promising, Vanthom added that if enrollment doesn’t stabilize, the campus may be forced to stretch resources and make minor budget cuts.
“With small budget differences, your class sizes may go from 14 to 16 students on average,” Vanthom said. “For any one class, that may mean five more students, or it may mean 10.”
However, he stressed that these changes would likely be minor.
“Every loss is significant, but I don’t think I can tell you that if we lose another 2% or 1.8%, we won’t have new books in the library,” said Vanthom. ” It’s nothing catastrophic. It just may mean you may see things like that.”
In the face of these challenges, WSU Vancouver remains committed to adapting and growing. With strategic initiatives like the Guaranteed Admission Program and improvements to the student experience, the university is positioning itself for long-term success.
Vanthom emphasized that while current enrollment numbers present challenges, the campus community is focused on ensuring that WSU Vancouver continues to provide quality education and support for its students.