Seems to me we have not answered the biggest question: Is the reduction a result of market size reduction or loss of market share? Ted asked the question somewhere. I have not seen a definitive answer. Maybe I missed it.
Is it true that fewer people are earning bachelor's degrees statewide? Is that a problem?
There are fewer college age kids, state and region wide and that won't change anytime soon. The Journalism and English departments were always well thought of and yet those majors, as well as some others are going through a great deal of transition, which could lower numbers.
Some anecdotal points, a colleague has made a couple points to me for sometime, I have no idea if he is correct but he certainly rubs elbows with those who should know. He claims international students, whether by their choice or their government's choice are increasingly going to schools in the South and West, and of course those who can will always go to the Ivy League schools if possible. He claims, with the exception of the Ivy League, that the days of schools outside the South and West getting the numbers of international students they once did are over.
Also, schools like Columbus State are increasingly partnering with employers like Honda to get kids a two year associates degree (paid by Honda) and then put them into apprentice programs where they can either work on the factory floor with credentials to move up or continue to other schools for two more years to fulfill their Bachelor requirements. The same goes for Amazon and a myriad of IT companies.
I think all of these factors are contributing to declining numbers not only for us, but many other schools as well.
Last Edited: 2/7/2020 10:14:40 AM by cbus cat fan