Northern sees slight increase in fall student head count

Montana State University-Northern reported it saw a slight increase in students attending Havre’s university this fall — only six more students, but the first increase it has seen since the fall of 2013.

“(Northern) is pleased to announce that our enrollment is up this semester,” Director of University Relations Jim Potter said in a press release. “This is the first time that we have been up in several years, when most of the campuses in the state are currently experiencing a decline.”

Northern has struggled with declining enrollment for years, trying to make improvements to the university and its programs to reverse the trend.

The last head-count increase the university saw was when the students enrolled in fall 2013 was at 1,334, up from 1,282 in fall 2012.

Northern’s press release said the university saw significant growth in its education, nursing and trade programs this fall. “These enrollment increases didn’t just fall out of the sky,” Chancellor Greg Kegel said in the release. “These wins are due to an intentional and focused strategic plan. Three years ago, we identified these programs as ‘Growth Programs.’  We realized then that these programs needed to grow in order to meet the needs of Montana. Therefore, we made some significant changes to our structure and marketing strategies to help facilitate their growth.”

Karen Ogden of the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education said the Montana university campuses estimates of their full-time-equivalents — the number of students divided a full-class load to determine what enrollment would be if all students were taking a full load — will be announced at the fall Montana Board of Regents of Higher Education meeting in November.

Potter said that at the time of the press release, Northern was down slightly in FTE but several factors could raise that, including the completion of modules in some programs and completion of dual-enrollment classes in which high school students get high school and college credit, should bring that number up. Potter said the university will hopeful — end with at least a slight increase in FTE, as well.

Some programs with increases of student headcounts are elementary education, up 89 percent over this time last year and their Bachelor of Science in nursing program is up 50 percent. Northern is also seeing growth in its trade programs and has expanded its apprenticeship offerings to include pipefitting.

The release said demographics of the student body at Northern include that:

• 85.6 percent of students are from Montana

• 6.5 percent of students are from the Hi-Line

• 42.5 percent of transfer students come from out-of-state

• 78 percent of students are first-generation college students.

Potter said in the release Northern was still reviewing the enrollment numbers, but the university’s retention numbers also are trending upward.

“We believe The Little River Institute has played a key role in helping us recruit and retain American Indian students,” he added. “Their newly renovated facility will soon be open and it will enhance that program’s ability to meet the educational and social needs of our American Indian students,” Potter said. 

“In addition, concerted efforts in faculty-led tutoring, the efforts of the Student Support Services, and the Registrar’s office have had a strong positive impact on student retention and success,” Potter said.

Northern Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Neil Moisey, Ph.D., said a lot of effort has gone into bringing up enrollment.

“The gains we are seeing are a direct result of a lot of hard work,” Moisey said. “We have also seen some enrollment shifts in other programs, so the enrollment growth that we are enjoying is offsetting the enrollment fluctuations.”

“We have found that utilizing outside professional advisory boards for each of our programs is one successful strategy that we are employing to facilitate growth,” Moisey added. “We are listening to our advisory boards and adjusting our programs to meet the needs that they have identified. This year we have learned a lot about what it takes to transform a program. We plan to strategically help build many other programs with the same level of focus and commitment.”