Winona Post: Enrollment down at local colleges

By Alexandra Retter, October 20, 2021

This fall, local colleges are facing a decline in enrollment. College leaders said the pandemic contributed to the decrease. They also described their strategies for how to address enrollment, from outreach to adult learners to virtual services. 

Minnesota State College Southeast's (MSC Southeast) enrollment declined by the equivalent of 34 full-year students, dropping from 579 at the end of fall 2020 to a projected 542 at the end of this semester. Enrollment was stable in 2020, increasing slightly from 574 in fall 2019.

...MSC Southeast Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Josiah Litant also cited the pandemic as the major reason behind enrollment drops. "COVID has really upended our enrollment patterns," he said. Students wanting to take a break may have been a factor in enrollment decline last spring, for example, he said. 

...MSC Southeast has resumed in-person recruitment at places such as high schools, Litant said, while maintaining its virtual recruitment efforts from the pandemic. The college is also in the initial year of a multi-year enrollment plan that includes efforts to reach adult learners, for example. 

"It makes sure we're on a pathway we anticipate will be prosperous for the college and beneficial for our students," he said. 

Read the full story