Latest news with #enrollmentdecline
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
A Linchpin Of American Higher Education Funding Is At Risk
-And 2026 Could Be Worse While headlines scream about a potential 40% collapse in new international student enrollment for Fall 2025 – translating to a 15% overall drop, 150,000 fewer students, $7 billion in lost revenue, and 60,000 vanished jobs according to a recent report by NAFSA, The Association of International Educators, American universities face a far more insidious long-term threat. The true crisis isn't just the immediate shock to the Class of 2029; it's the accelerating exodus of talent, particularly from China and India, towards competitor nations in 2026-2027 and beyond. The pipeline sustaining a critical revenue stream and global academic standing is springing leaks that may prove impossible to plug. The Immediate Crunch: Visa Chaos and Plummeting Interest The mechanisms driving the 2025 decline are stark: The economic impact is geographically widespread but deeply concentrated: California faces a potential $1 billion hit, New York $988 million, Massachusetts $619 million, Texas $388 million, and Florida $243 million. Beyond 2025: The Looming Structural Shift The greater peril lies beyond the immediate enrollment cliff. The combination of persistent visa hurdles, perceived hostility, and aggressive recruitment by competitor nations is fundamentally altering the aspirations of the next cohort of international students, especially from the two largest sending countries: China and India. Vulnerable Institutions: Not Just the Obvious Suspects While elite, well-endowed universities will feel the pain (Columbia, NYU, Northeastern, USC, CMU, and Illinois CU all have high international undergrad populations), they possess larger buffers. The existential threat is to a different tier. A Brookings study found that these colleges are most at risk: The Bleeding Has Already Started This isn't theoretical: The Unsustainable Model Exposed International students contributed over $44 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023-24 – more than Disney's global revenue. They are not merely students; they are full-fee-paying customers subsidizing the education of domestic students and university operations. At private institutions, where discount rates for domestic students often exceed 50%, international full-pay students are the linchpin keeping the financial model afloat. Public universities rely on their premium tuition to offset stagnant state funding. A Call Beyond Expedited Visas While NAFSA rightly calls for expedited F-1/M-1/J-1 processing and exemptions from travel bans for students (with security checks intact), this addresses only the immediate 2025 logjam. The deeper challenge requires a fundamental shift: The $7 billion crisis of 2025 is severe. But the silent hemorrhage of future talent pipelines threatens to inflict a slow, debilitating wound on American higher education's finances, global competitiveness, and intellectual vitality. If the students from Beijing, Hyderabad, Lagos, and São Paulo stop dreaming of American degrees by 2026, the foundations of the system itself begin to crumble. The linchpin isn't just at risk; it's being actively pried loose.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Waukesha parents question Waukesha School District's enrollment projections
Parents are concerned about the Waukesha School District's plans to close schools in the future, with some questioning the data the district is using in its decision making. The Waukesha School District is looking at four options that could lead to closing schools, redistricting remaining schools and possibly selling buildings in an effort to match its building footprint to its current and future enrollment. No decisions have been made yet, and whatever the district decides will not be implemented until fall 2026. All four options the district is considering would close Bethesda Elementary School. The school is at 730 S. University Drive on the west side of Waukesha. Two Waukesha residents with children in the Waukesha School District, Joe Burke and Sean Shurbet, said in a June 24 news release that the district's presentation of enrollment data contradicts data from the City of Waukesha that shows current and projected future growth. The two said the district's focus on enrollment decline is not aligned with the city's priority of increasing housing availability, affordability and attractiveness. Here's what to know about the data and residents' concerns. The school district's enrollment has dropped from a peak of over 13,000 students in the 2012-13 school year to about 10,500 students today. The district's 2024 enrollment study, which was conducted by the University of Wisconsin's Applied Population Lab, predicts enrollment will continue to decline through 2034, to as low as 8,776 students. In their news release, Burke and Shurbet cited a August 2024 City of Waukesha Housing Study and Needs Assessment. The city's study identified an additional 1,821 people younger than 20 by 2038 and said it expects the population of age 19 and younger to grow by 2.25% between 2028 and 2038. In addition, the city's study said population growth in general is shown to be steady through 2038. In 2023, there was a need for 763 additional homes. There will be a need for 641 additional housing units between 2023 and 2038 and another 986 housing units in 2038, the study said. Shurbet and Burke's news release said the options the district is considering would disproportionately affect the Hispanic community, especially at Bethesda Elementary, where 38% of the school's students are Hispanic. The release said that, between Bethesda and Hawthorne elementary schools, 334 Hispanic students would be affected. In a statement, the Waukesha School District said that it, like other districts statewide, have experienced declining enrollment over many years. The district said its enrollment has dropped each year between 2% and 2.5%; over the past 20 years, it has experienced a total enrollment decline of 25.5%. "While we agree that Waukesha needs all types of housing options to meet the needs of our community, there is nothing in our data or experience to suggest significantly more children will be born or live in any additional housing units," the district said in its statement. The district cited Wisconsin Department of Health Services statistics showing Waukesha County's birth rate as lower than Wisconsin's and the United States' birth rate from 2003 to 2023. The district also cited the Applied Population Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's most recent enrollment study, which shows a continuing decline throughout Wisconsin "over the coming decade." And, it said, a Waukesha School District specific study from April 2024 showed enrollment will likely decline between 1,011 and 1,479 students over the next five years, a trend it thinks will likely continue through district said it is being proactive in evaluating the number of buildings it has and how many schools it needs. It says it is working with parents, staff and the community to decide what options to pursue. Along with questioning the district's data, Bethesda Elementary School parents have other concerns about the district's process. Karen Fraley, who has two children at Bethesda Elementary and is vice president of the school's Parent-Teacher Organization, said parents were shocked when they heard about the plans. One of their concerns is the timeline for the district's decision, which is expected later this year. "So what is the real driving factor here? Why does it need to be so urgent, and why can't we stretch out the timeline so that we can make sure that we've thought all of the logistics, all the potential unforeseen consequences?" said Fraley. Fraley also said the parents are concerned about the logistics of busing students to the remaining schools, and the impact of the potential loss of the schools dual language program, which teaches students in both English and Spanish. The effects of the plans on special education students also concerns Fraley, who has a child who uses those services. "It doesn't look to me, from the state of the plans as they are, that the district administration really took into consideration 'OK, where are students going to be moving to? How are you going to maintain the types of relationships that are necessary for learning?" she said. Madison Gonzalez, whose two children both attend Bethesda Elementary and both use special education services, said her two biggest concerns are about special education and the dual language program. "I think one of my biggest concerns in regards to the special education program, from my experience, would be how we're going to take these kids who have found a home and really grown with the school and then put them somewhere else and possibly backtracking all the work that's been done," Gonzalez said. While her children aren't in the dual language program, Gonzalez said those families need to be spoken for. Cutting the program would present transportation issues and moral issues due to what she says are families who are native Spanish speakers being excluded from the conversation. "It was just a little disheartening for the school board — that prides itself on being one of the best when it comes to dual language — is not including these families in the same conversation so they can give feedback," Gonzalez said. Antonia Schmidt, whose daughter has Down syndrome, uses special education services and is heading into second grade, said she is also concerned about how the changes would affect the progress her daughter has made. She also has a son who will start kindergarten in the 2025-26 school year. "Just the thought of it getting taken away and changed around was hard to process," Schmidt said. Schmidt said she was encouraged to see how many parents have rallied in trying to save the school. "Seeing how many want to save the school, it was really touching and really comforting, and it's really making us more driven than anything," Schmidt said. Bethesda parent Bill Stengrevics started a petition, "Save Bethesda Elementary School," which had 718 signatures as of July 2. Burke and Shurbet's news release said Bethesda Elementary parents are planning to share their concerns at Waukesha School District meetings. They also plan to hold a rally at the School Board's July 9 meeting. For more information on the district's information sessions, visit Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or Follow him on Twitter at@AlecJohnson12. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Waukesha parents concerned about district plan to close schools
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Temple University eyes job reductions amid $60M deficit for FY26
This story was originally published on Higher Ed Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Higher Ed Dive newsletter. Temple University President John Fry this week signaled that officials expect to eliminate jobs as the public institution in Philadelphia navigates choppy fiscal waters. University leaders forecast a $60 million structural deficit for fiscal 2026, Fry said in an announcement to the Temple community. That comes after the university shrank an $85 million projected deficit to $19 million for fiscal 2025. As the university tries to close the persistent structural deficits, Temple leaders have asked vice presidents and deans to reduce their total compensation spending by 5% across units, Fry said. 'Unfortunately, this will result in the elimination of some positions,' he added. Over fiscal 2025, Temple shrank its deficit by tightly controlling hiring, travel and other discretionary spending. Nonetheless, long-term enrollment declines have weighed on the budget. 'For the previous years that we had a structural deficit, university reserves were used to cover expenses, which is not a sustainable practice,' Fry said. 'We must work toward achieving a structurally balanced budget where our expenses do not exceed revenues going forward.' Specifically, Fry pointed to a drop of 10,000 students from fall 2017 levels, with much of that dip occurring during the pandemic. As of fall 2023, Temple's enrollment totaled 30,205 students. The declines, Fry noted, have translated into a roughly $200 million falloff in tuition revenue. However, Fry pointed to 'positive indicators' for the class of 2029. He said Temple is on track for its second consecutive year of increases in first-year students. But while enrollment is still being rebuilt, state appropriations have remained flat and operating costs have increased. 'For this reason, fiscal year 2026 — and the next two years — will continue to be challenging until we significantly grow overall enrollment and identify new revenue sources,' Fry said. 'In short, we have some difficult but necessary decisions to make over the next three fiscal years.' Employee compensation accounts for 62% of operating expenses, which is why university leaders are homing in on those costs. Even so, the university is planning a 1.5% increase in the budget for merit salary raises. The university is also making capital investments, including building a new home for its public health college and an arts pavilion. Fry noted that these projects are funded with donations and state money. Temple is far from alone in its austerity measures. In recent months, both public and private universities have undertaken some combination of hiring freezes, furloughs, layoffs, tuition hikes and other measures to address funding challenges from both the state and federal level. The Trump administration, for example, has unilaterally slashed grant funding, and congressional Republicans are eyeing policy changes, such as eliminating Grad PLUS loans. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Denver Public Schools will not close additional schools in 2025
DENVER (KDVR) — Denver's public school district is feeling the impact of changes across the metro area. Lower birth rates and housing challenges are resulting in a decline in enrollment. The school board voted to close seven schools and restructure three others under the Denver Schools Thrive Initiative. Previous reporting: Here are the 10 Denver Public Schools that could close or restructure in 2025 While the District will not close any additional schools in 2025, a spokesperson tells FOX31 that 6,000 fewer students are expected to enter the school system by 2029, an 8% decline that could drive additional changes in the coming years. 'This isn't something that we ever want to do, and it's something that we feel compelled to do and have to do as a result of our commitment to provide a high standard of service to all kids,' said DPS Enrollment and Campus Planning Executive Director Andrew Huber. Tara Johnson told FOX31 her daughter will no longer attend her neighborhood school due to the closures, but instead will start riding a bus to a new school this fall that is located about two miles away. 'This is a different school, new school; I'm not going to be able to just walk over there,' she said. Johnson says she is concerned about being able to quickly address any problems that affect her child's well-being. Denver sees historic drop in street homelessness: Mayor Johnston 'I want to make sure she's safe and everything that's happening for her is for her betterment,' said Johnson. Denver's school district currently has approximately 90,000 students, but that number will change according to DPS's Strategic Regional Analysis, which outlines projections for enrollment over the next five years. The report shows a pattern of declining enrollment since 2019 that is expected to continue through 2029. 'The things kind of like the specials, the electives, the extra supports and services that we know all of our kids deserve, become harder and harder to sustain financially,' he said. Huber added that it is important to carefully address falling enrollment numbers in order to preserve the quality of educational programs. 'We believe that as a result of that process, we've right-sized the district relative to our current enrollment,' said Huber. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Penn State board votes to close 7 branch campuses
Penn State's board has voted to close seven of the university's branch campuses. Penn State's board of trustees voted 25 in favor and 8 against closing the DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York campuses the following spring semester. Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi says over the past 10 years, the seven campuses have seen a 43% decline in enrollment. And there's the issue of financial costs. (Photo: KDKA) "Many are understandably hoping for a way to have it all, but honestly, the numbers tell a different story," Bendapudi said. Bendapudi says she understands how much people care about their local campuses and how they've deeply impacted the communities. "I want to be clear: we did not arrive at this moment because people failed. In fact, the opposite is true. We heard from more than 500 people," Bendapudi said. The university is offering resources for those impacted, including letting students complete their degree through the university and giving faculty members priority hiring considerations for other available positions. Penn State's Beaver, Greater Allegheny, Hazleton, Schuylkill and Scranton campuses had previously been considered for closure, but were taken off the chopping block.
