By Kiara Catanzaro
News Assignment Editor
The university has seen a decrease in its freshman enrollment from 2012 to 2013. This year, the university enrolled 438 freshman and 71 transfer students. There were 422 graduate students enrolled for a total of 2,259 students at St. Bonaventure, according to Emily Sinsabaugh, vice president for university relations.
This is a decrease in enrollment from fall 2012. The university enrolled 486 freshmen and 85 transfer students. Also, there were 428 graduate students for a total of 2,336 students at St. Bonaventure, according to Sinsabaugh.
Although St. Bonaventure is strategically diversifying its portfolio of enrollment, they work toward meeting enrollment goal regarding freshmen, transfer students and graduate admissions, according to Sinsabaugh.
“In a few years from now, I think St. Bonaventure University will have a slightly different mix of students that we have had historically in the past,” Sinsabaugh said. “Although we didn’t meet our goal for the year regarding enrollment numbers, we are continuing to look at our academic programs and our co-curricular opportunities so that St. Bonaventure can be an institution of choice for students.”
Because there is a decline in population in western New York, St. Bonaventure will reach out to new markets for enrollment opportunities, Sinsabaugh said.
“The university is reaching out to new markets to introduce new members,” Sinsabaugh said. “For example, we have an increase number in applications from Chicago, Virginia and the D.C./Maryland area. We are working with our alumni there regarding marketing so we can bring students from those areas here.”
Although there was a decline in student enrollment for 2013, St. Bonaventure faculty is looking to change that for the coming year.
The university plans to interact with a new market of students in other areas in the country so that there will be a diverse group of student introduced to St. Bonaventure, Sinsabaugh said.
“It’s important to the university because if the population trends continue to change in western New York, we will need student enrollment from other areas,” Sinsabaugh said. “It’s important that we establish the university’s presence in new markets will take time, but we are starting to see the dividends on that, so it’s great to see a change. It brings diversity to the campus, which is important for students because they have the experience to interact with other students in the country.”
The university didn’t meet its goal regarding enrollment but given the population, St. Bonaventure did as well as it could have with recruits. Now, the university is implementing strategies this year to help with enrollment for the coming year.
The university is lucky to have a support system of faculty and staff regarding prospective students when they visit campus, Sinsabaugh said. Professors are willing to meet with students regarding academic interests. If St. Bonaventure has students visit the campus, there is a better chance that the university will enroll them because of our interactive faculty and staff, according to Sinsabaugh.
The university plans to incorporate more interactive activities to engage prospective students when they visit campus at open houses this fall.
“Our open houses this fall will have new opportunities for prospective students,” Sinsabaugh said. “Instead of lecturing the students about what it’s like to be a student at St. Bonaventure, we will have engaging activities that will demonstrate those ideas to potential students.”
