Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 1, 1991 TAG: 9102010695
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG/ HIGHER EDUCATION WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
More high school graduates now are seeking to further their education, said Barry Dorsey, deputy director of the Council of Higher Education. And a number of older students are going to back to school.
About 57,944 students are expected to graduate from Virginia high schools this year.
"I don't foresee a decline in the number of college students," Dorsey said. "Historically, when there has been a decline in the number of high school graduates, college enrollment does not go down."
But officials say that tough economic conditions are finding fewer applications from high school seniors on admissions desks at the more expensive private colleges.
At Virginia Tech, admissions officials still are marveling over an increase of about 3.5 percent in applications over last year at this time. Although the figures aren't final - applications to the university must be postmarked by today - officials expect the percentage to hold.
If staff members knew why the number of applicants was going up while the number of students was going down "we'd bottle it and save it," said Susan Bambach, senior assistant director of admissions.
Some guesses: The university is aggressively recruiting students - including minority students and National Merit Scholars. The number of applicants in both of those categories rose significantly this year.
The University of Virginia reported an increase in overall applications of about 9 percent, or 2,000 applications.
"I'd been predicting a decline because of the demographics," said Jack Blackburn, dean of admissions at UVa. "If you check around the country, you'll find most are down - there are just fewer high school students to go around."
He said economics plays a role in the growing number of applicants. "When money gets tight, lower tuition is certainly a draw."
There is also an increasing interest in the university among out-of-state students. About 75 percent of the increase is from applicants who don't live in Virginia. But applications aren't up at all schools with traditionally low tuition rates.
Radford University, which once admitted only females, reported a decrease in women applicants over last year at this time. But the number of transfer students is up, the number of male applicants is constant, and officials there are hopeful that the numbers will level out by the suggested deadline - April 1.
"The next couple of years are going to be a little more difficult. There are just fewer new students out there," said Vernon Beitzel.
"If colleges can make till end of decade, there will be plenty of people to go around," Blackburn said.
Admissions are slightly down at Hollins College, "Just like they are at any other college in the country," said admissions director Virginia Blackwell. "From what I know from other Southern, private colleges, most of them are running behind. Private schools now are being hit twofold: One is by the demographics and two is by the recent threat of a decline in the economy."
Families that used to look toward private institutions are becoming more conservative, she said. "Quite frankly, I can't blame them."
She said that while the pool is down, the quality of students looks similar to that of recent years.
"We have no indication of a changing complexion in the freshman class," she said. "We just may have to work a little harder."
Washington and Lee University in Lexington appears to be an exception, with an increase in applications of about 8 percent.
The number of students attending the state's community colleges also is continuing to grow - another link to a declining economy.
New River Community College in Dublin has reported record-breaking semesters for a year and a half.
"As a system, there are higher enrollments everywhere," said Joyce Taylor, spokeswoman for NRCC. "I'm not sure what our projections are for next year, but it does look like it's going to go up."
Enrollment so far this spring is at 3,444 students, with more classes scheduled to begin later. Last year enrollment was 3,305.
by CNB