By Maria Chacin
Despite the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, Edgewood College Vice President for Enrollment Amber Schultz says the college’s Fall 2020 enrollment numbers are still better than they were a year ago.
“In the enrollment world, it’s always hard to know the exact impact on Fall until a few days after the semester has started,” said Schultz. “Right now, the virus is not looking to have any negative impact if we compared our numbers historically to the last year at this time.”
According to Schultz’s data, Edgewood College is 17% ahead on confirmed students compared to data from last spring. On May 1, 2019, the college recorded 252 confirmed incoming freshman. There are 295 confirmed incoming students as of May 1 this year.
As a member of Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (WAICU), Schultz has attended many meetings on behalf on Edgewood College, she said. After several conversations with other WAICU members, Schultz said she learned that other college’s enrollment numbers have worsened since the pandemic.
Edgewood’s enrollment statistics are good in comparison. “Our numbers are actually looking incredibly strong,” Schultz said. “That’s really exciting.”
The college is also ahead on transfer student numbers. Schultz’s data says there were 56 confirmed transfer students in May 2019. This May, Edgewood has recorded 68 confirmed transfers—a 21% increase.
Though the current transfer numbers are stronger than 2019’s, during College Assembly on May 11, Schultz said transfer student enrollment has been affected by the pandemic. She said she hopes to see an increase in transfer applications.
The enrollment team is also working on strategies for graduate student enrollment, as Schultz said she anticipates a decline in those numbers.
This image is from Schultz’s slideshow that presents the college’s most recent enrollment data for incoming freshman. Photo provided. 
This image is from Schultz’s slideshow that presents the college’s most recent enrollment data for transfer students. Photo provided. 
This image is from Schultz’s slideshow that presents the college’s most recent enrollment data for graduate students. Photo provided.
Admissions
Even though the virus has not directly affected undergraduate enrollment numbers, Schultz said she acknowledges that it has affected students’ lives.
Student experience and student recruiting have changed completely, according to Schultz.
The Admissions Office is making efforts to keep in touch with incoming students by virtually meeting with them for campus visits, Schultz said.
She said Admissions was able to develop new technology that it didn’t have before, such as interactive campus maps and higher video quality.
Schultz said she believes that these improvements have contributed to the current enrollment numbers.
Heather Harbach, vice president for student development, sent an email to students on May 5 ensuring that Edgewood College is committed to open in the fall as long as it is safe to do. Schultz said this email helped push students who were hesitating to enroll for fall semester to do so, as well as push current students to return to campus.
Schultz’s data projects 755 returning students for Fall 2020, she said at Monday’s college assembly.
Relief Funds
For current students, the Presidential Relief Fund and the Eddy’s Emergency Fund are available, which Schultz said are funds that no other colleges are offering.
“I know that’s probably not nearly enough to solve all the losses that some of our students are experiencing, but hopefully it will help them a little bit,” Schultz said.
Harbach encourages Edgewood students who have not yet applied for these funds to do so. During Monday’s college assembly, she said there is still around $200,000 available for students through the Presidential Relief Fund and the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act. A total of about $1.2 million has been granted to students thus far, Harbach said.
Post your comments