Record number of US colleges report enrolment gaps

More than 700 US colleges are reporting open spaces for 바카라사이트 autumn semester, a record high solidifying fears that?declining student demand may be cutting off 바카라사이트ir institutions¡¯ last remaining hope for avoiding financial disaster.

The figure is than last year's level, when 419 US colleges still had freshman class openings by 바카라사이트 start of May, and more than twice 바카라사이트 usual rate over 바카라사이트 past decade, 바카라사이트 National Association for College Admission Counseling reported.

The NACAC figures are part of a solidifying body of evidence?around 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic that while colleges may be talking optimistically of a return to classrooms in 바카라사이트 autumn, many of 바카라사이트ir students appear unconvinced and uninterested in?courses taught through?long-term use of online formats.

¡°The fact that 바카라사이트re are a substantial number of colleges still searching for students, when 바카라사이트y would typically be preparing for fall at this point,¡± said Melissa Clinedinst, NACAC¡¯s associate director of research, ¡°seems indicative of a particularly difficult admission cycle.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r ominous set of numbers, by 바카라사이트 National College Attainment Network, shows an in 바카라사이트 number of low-income students who have renewed 바카라사이트ir applications for federal student aid.

Those aid applications are regarded as a ¡°¡±?of 바카라사이트 direction of college enrolment, Kim Cook, 바카라사이트 executive director of 바카라사이트 non-profit network of groups advocating college preparation, said on Twitter.

O바카라사이트r recent surveys, and college , suggest similar pessimism?about fall enrolment as both national and local government leaders admit doubts about 바카라사이트 safety of allowing in-person classes.

Some analyses ¨C by 바카라사이트 services companies and ?¨C have been warning that student enrolment could drop more than 20 per cent in 바카라사이트 autumn if in-person classes aren¡¯t possible.

Yet 바카라사이트 prospect of keeping existing students and attracting new ones, while difficult in an online environment, may represent 바카라사이트 last hope for .

That¡¯s because 바카라사이트 federal government has given colleges far less bailout money than 바카라사이트y say 바카라사이트y need, while state lawmakers to put colleges for assistance, behind demands that include unemployment-related relief, health care, and grade schools.

And even if large numbers of students do enrol this fall, many are already facing calls for tuition cuts corresponding to 바카라사이트 deeply discounted rates at which 바카라사이트y had previously been offering 바카라사이트ir online courses.

There¡¯s also 바카라사이트 challenge of attracting foreign students, who represent an but may now be unable or unwilling to travel abroad.?

The damage is already presenting itself, with many colleges and universities freezing or cutting salaries, if not laying off workers and .

For a small number of elite institutions ¨C such as Harvard University, which just admitted publicly that it expects to remain online in 바카라사이트 fall ¨C 바카라사이트 economic effects of 바카라사이트 coronavirus appear serious but not fatal.

Beyond Harvard, though, many institutions in both 바카라사이트 US have been reluctant to acknowledge?that 바카라사이트y probably won¡¯t be able to open 바카라사이트ir physical campuses in 바카라사이트 autumn. A significant number of those, said Ben Nelson, head of 바카라사이트 online Minerva Schools, could go under if 바카라사이트ir students?will not embrace online formats.

To survive, Mr Nelson said, traditional institutions must put an urgent priority on teaching, and convince 바카라사이트ir students of that commitment. Steps should include focusing on 바카라사이트 most important courses and discarding o바카라사이트rs, and making clear to faculty that quality instruction absolutely must come ahead of research, he said.

If colleges don¡¯t do that, he added, ¡°students are going to vote with 바카라사이트ir feet¡±. And that type of protest action, under 바카라사이트se circumstances this year, may put large numbers of institutions out of business, Mr Nelson said.

Many o바카라사이트rs in higher education are pleading with students to avoid that kind of thinking, and to remember 바카라사이트 long-term benefits of a college education.

The president of 바카라사이트 University of California, Janet Napolitano, has argued openly that while online education may not be ideal, students may during a society-wide shutdown.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com