The anticipated enrollment cliff expected nationally to begin over the last 18 months is not showing up on the Tennessee Tech campus so far.
Lower birth rates post-2008 led to the anticipation of the cliff. Director of Admissions Jacob Cutshall said this reflects in a smaller pool of high school graduates today. Cutshall said there are many factors that play into the enrollment cliff.
“Tennessee is actually going to see an increase of 15 percent of high school graduates over from now until 2041,” Cutshall said. “So the state of Tennessee is actually going to see an increase, while 30 other states are going to see a decrease.”
Cutshall said he would not consider the University’s dip in enrollment an effect of the enrollment cliff. Cutshall said the University’s enrollment has showed an increase from year to year, saying the University is searching for students truly interested in going to the University.
“We’re focusing on really our yield rates, and yielding the students that are going to make good quality Tennessee Tech students,” Cutshall said.
Cutshall said the state will be very fortunate through the enrollment cliff, as high schools throughout the state promote vocational programs and community colleges.
Cutshall said the University is seeing a decline in their applications, taking strides to increase numbers through promotions like free application week.
“We are a little down in our application numbers but it’s not necessarily something that we are concerned about,” Cutshall said.
Cutshall said this is something that the University will keep an eye on in the future, looking at strategic plans to put in place to increase enrollment.
Cutshall said Tech is putting a larger emphasis on recruiting the younger generation, focusing efforts on emphasizing dual enrollment courses for sophomores and juniors rather than recruiting rising seniors. Cutshall said the University has used adult and online recruitment to increase enrollment.
“A lot of other institutions are starting to emphasize, just to kind of counteract the potential decreases in high school enrollment,” Cutshall said.
Cutshall said community colleges are facing some effects of the enrollment cliff, as they are reliant on a region to region basis. Cutshall said different parts of the state are projected to have declines and growth in enrollment, according to various studies.
“Of course Nashville being one of the areas enrollment is growing in,” Cutshall said. “And so, you know, some of those areas are going to do a little bit better than, maybe your more rural areas. “
Cutshall said he thinks institutions are dealing with the enrollment cliff in different ways, trying to prepare for it. Cutshall said preparations look different for every institution, each has different needs.
Cutshall said the effects of the enrollment cliff could have positive outcomes for the state. as Tennessee is a popular area to move to for the lack of a state income tax. Cutshall said state growth can impact the affects of the enrollment cliff, as South Carolina, Texas and Florida have seen some growth.
“Some of these areas that we are seeing people move to, you are also going to see that naturally in the high school graduates.” Cutshall said. “So I do think that is going to be one of the things that is going to help us moving forward in the future, is the attractiveness of Tennessee.”