Enrolment numbers are now in and St. Thomas University’s are down.
In the 2014-2015 academic year, the total student enrolment at STU was 2,236. As of Oct. 1 the number of students for the 2015-2016 academic year stands at 2,096.
STU’s numbers are indicative of a trend at Atlantic Canadian universities. The total student population in the Association of Atlantic Universities went down from 75,269 to 73,663. There were only three universities that bucked the trend; Dalhousie, Université Sainte-Anne and Mount Allison.
The university has posted declines in enrolment in the past four academic years, losing 559 students in the process. There is a silver lining, St. Thomas Students Union President Megan Thomson said the numbers were better than anticipated.
“Enrolment is down everywhere…it has still dropped from last year, but enrolment this year is higher than they originally anticipated,” said Thomson
Another indication that STU’s enrolment might be rebounding is first year numbers
“It’s always important to have growth in your first year class,” said Jeffrey Carleton, director of communications for STU. “St. Thomas had a 2.5 per cent growth in the first year class, which saw an increase for the first time in many years.”
The university has increased its focus on recruitment. While redesigning the STU website special attention was paid to placement of potential student materials.
The university has also spent more on student recruitment. In the fiscal year ending in April of 2014, the university spent $180,380 on recruitment, in the fiscal year ending April 2015 the university spent $198,773.
“We have added additional resources in our enrolment management area,” said Carleton. “There’s additional recruiters. We’re going to more international markets.”
