Official: Data that shows more students enrolled at all eight Kent State campuses is not unexpected

A nationwide standard for universities mandates that Kent State release enrollment statistics 15 days into every semester.

However, this spring’s fifteenth day was tardy.

The conversion to the Banner system and accuracy checks delayed the data by more than a month.

The spring semester fifteenth day statistics reveal an enrollment increase of 97 students compared to Spring 2007, bringing a combined head count of the eight campuses to 31,851. Spring 2007 statistics showed an overall decrease of 567 students.

15TH DAY STATISTICS The following list includes previous 15th day numbers and overall enrollment for the spring and fall semesters of 2006 and 2007. It is a statistical analysis of the Kent State eight campus system enrollment. Information provided by the Research Planning and Institutional Effectiveness. Full-time equivalent student rates is the average bachelor’s degree hours of a full-time student set by state standards. FALL 2007 •Student head count increased by 1.27 percent; 34,056 students for a net increase of 426 students compared to Fall 2006 • Student FTE increased by 1.04 percent; the Kent State eight-campus system generated 277.9 more FTE compared to Fall 2006 SPRING 2007 • Student head count decreased by 1.75 percent; 31,754 students for a net decrease of 567 students • Student FTE decreased by 1.51 percent; the Kent State eight-campus system generated 375.9 less FTE compared to Spring 2006 FALL 2006 • Student head count decreased by 2.50 percent; 33,630 students for a net decrease of 861 students compared to Fall 2005 • Student FTE decreased by 2.07 percent; the Kent State eight-campus system generated 564.5 less FTE compared to Fall 2005 SPRING 2006 • Student head count decreased by 2.23 percent; 32,321 students for a net decrease of 736 students compared to Spring 2005 • Student FTE decreased by 1.79 percent; the Kent State eight-campus system generated 453.1 less FTE compared to Spring 2005

Numbers are compiled by looking at course and major enrollment and admission rates at all eight campuses based on data provided 15 days into the semester.

“The numbers were what we expected them to be,” said Mike Sperko, institutional data and information director. “We knew up front we had a very good sense of what the numbers would be shortly after the 15th day. The problem was making sure all details lined up behind the numbers.”

Sperko said there are hundreds of files within Banner specific to each student, such as registration, admissions and financial aid information, that contribute to the overall enrollment statistics. The student data taken from Banner must line up with every detail in every department, Sperko said.

Learning and converting to the new system caused the major delay this semester.

“We have to learn what we have to gather in order to extract the files needed to work with and do in-depth analysis for the colleges (within Kent State),” Sperko said.

Sperko said Banner information 15 days into the semester was accurate, but it was just a matter of checking data with the new system.

Sally Kandel, research planning and institutional effectiveness associate vice president, said the 15th day is a consensus date for all universities. Student information such as course registration and enrollment is “frozen” on the 15th day to extract numbers for analysis, she said.

“Fall predicts spring, and there weren’t any surprises,” Kandel said.

Full-time equivalent student rates across the eight campuses also increased by 0.65 percent.

FTE is the average bachelor’s degree hours of a full-time student set by state standards. FTE is found by the students’ total credit hours divided by the average 15 hours per semester.

FTE progress is separated into concurrent and preponderant enrollment.

Concurrent enrollment counts students attending multiple campuses, but preponderant enrollment only counts students at their majority-coursehour campus.

RPIE continues to look toward increased enrollment with every 15th day release.

“We always look for enrollment growth,” Kandel said. “We take information we know, and based on past outcomes and trends, we try to predict the future. We always watch the numbers and want them to grow, but it has to be consistent with the academic plan.”

Kandel said this semester’s delay won’t happen again.

“This delay should be a one-time delay. Now that the logics are in place, it’s good to go.”

Contact student affairs reporter Kim Brown at [email protected].