Silver City NM- Although it might not seem like it from a financial standpoint, the numbers are in and enrollment is down approximately 10 percent during the fall semester at Western New Mexico University. Most of the students absent this semester are dual credit: high school students who take classes at the university in return for college credit. As WNMU is finding, the fault may not be on them.
This year the Higher Learning Commission set new accreditation standards across the state. As a result, many instructors are no longer qualified to teach for college credit, and programs were cut- specifically, three sections of Computer Literacy 111 and a section of Social work 101, totaling four classes.
Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Isaac Brundage said, “We had to change how we vet the instructors for the program. A handful of them did not have the current qualifications to teach the courses for college credit.”
So how can enrollment be down but revenue still consistent? As President Shepard explains, “The amount of money the university receives for dual credit students is less than the cost to operate the program.”
Despite the lack of financial decline, WNMU is dedicated to promoting education to all ages and to regaining that 10 percent drop in students for the spring semester. New policies are currently being created and implemented which will allow teachers to be properly qualified for dual credit positions according to proper standards.
