Northern sees slight enrollment drop

Montana State University-Northern's student population is 1 percent smaller than it was last year, according to the college's 2015 Fall headcount, an annual student census taken three weeks into the beginning of a semester.

Overall, 1,234 students are attending classes at Northern, 11 fewer than at this point last fall. Of those, 390 are first-time enrollees.

Northern officials said the slight drop came as no surprise to them.

“We had a number of last-minute withdrawals because people were unable to make proper financial arrangements,” said Tracey Jette, the college's senior director of student success. Jette said this was in part because of the loss of $80,000 in tuition assistance funds, that enable cash strapped students to afford college.

The number of students living on campus has jumped by 6 percent with 295 students now residing in Northern's two dormitories, compared to 277 last year.

Health promotions, criminal justice, education and mechanical technologies are majors that have drawn the most interest from students, according to the report.

Northern Chancellor Greg Kegel said the college has been working hard on recruiting and retaining students over the past year through the formation of the Strategic Advancement Team, a group aimed at coming up with ways Northern's employees can take part in those efforts. Kegel predicted the construction of a new $10 million building to house the school's popular diesel program would play a big role in helping bolster enrollment.

“We have made some significant strides in the past year,” said Kegel. “I believe the new Diesel Technology Center will greatly improve across campus growth. That building will help attract and retain diesel students, and they will bring friends who are interested in other programs.”