Despite a drop in SIUC’s student enrollment from the spring 1995 semester to the spring 1996 semester, University officials say they are optimistic that this year’s decline is less than usual.

SIUC’s total on-campus enrollment is 18,844 students. This is a 1,157 student drop in on-campus enrollment from last semester. Total enrollment for SIUC is 21,247, Roland Keim, director of Admissions and Records said.

SIUC Chancellor John C. Guyon said this year’s decline in student enrollment could be a sign that SIUC’s enrollment problem is improving.

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This year’s decline is smaller than usual, Guyon said. Depending on your perspective, you could view that positively.

Guyon said the drop in enrollment represented either students who decided University life was not for them or students who graduated.

Keim said the drop in enrollment between fall and spring was normal.

What we see is just a classic drop between the fall semester and the spring semester, Keim said. We always expect a drop between fall and spring semesters.

Although the decline from fall to spring is less than previous years, the overall decline in enrollment at SIUC is an issue of concern for the SIU administration, SIU President Ted Sanders said.

Enrollment at SIUC has been declining since 1989. Last fall, the enrollment declined for the fifth consecutive fall semester.

SIU President Ted Sanders said the overall enrollment decline was a serious issue the University should be concerned with.

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I’m trying to better understand what’s happening with us and coming up with a workable plan that will turn the situation around and see us regain the student enrollment we’re currently losing, Sanders said.

Sanders said in order to increase enrollment, the University has to consider several issues.

First of all, we have to get better at keeping students until they complete either a baccalaureate or graduate degree, Sanders said. We need to get better at recruiting new students, marketing strengths that attract more of the pool than what we’re currently doing.