Student perspective: boosting enrollment

Autumn Brown/The News

Murray State is in the midst of an enrollment crisis, and while the administration has tried to solve the issue, they haven’t asked students what needs to be done.

Many of the factors contributing to Murray State’s enrollment crisis could be solved with more state funding.

This raises an interesting problem: state funding is largely based on enrollment and retention, but without state funding, the University struggles to draw in and retain students.

Noting this issue, the situation can be remedied by resolving problems and highlighting the awesome things about the University.

More prospective students would come to Murray State if it had more diverse programs. Of course, the ability to have more programs is inhibited by lack of funding.

Regardless, Murray State has a very basic selection of majors, which doesn’t do much to draw in students.

This generation is entrenched in the world of social media and technology. Offering more programs to prepare students for jobs in the tech industry would benefit Murray State exponentially.

Murray State used to be set apart from other institutions by its low tuition but as funding dwindles, the cost of attending the University rises.

Many prospective students would rather attend a larger university with more diverse programs, rather than attend a school which costs nearly the same amount but has less to offer.

An outstanding faculty is key to the success of any university. Murray State’s faculty is amazing, but the University does little to attract new professors or retain current ones.

The salary for professors at Murray State is markedly lower than other Kentucky universities, and the working climate (after looking at recent surveys) is also not up to par.

Parking is a hot topic for students and professors alike. The cost of parking tags this semester increased by 100 percent. The amount of parking tickets being doled out has also risen.

The cost of parking one’s on car on this campus is enough to drive anyone away.

International enrollment is on the decline, which is a huge detriment to the University considering international presence and exchange programs are a big draw to prospective students.

International students appreciate how clean and beautiful this campus is and how friendly students and faculty are. However, the lack of public transportation and international student facilities on campus may inspire them to look elsewhere.

The lack of decent health care on campus worries students and their parents, causing them to potentially look for universities that are better equipped to handle illnesses and injuries, and that include health care costs in tuition.

Students are driven away by the dilapidated buildings on campus. Woods Hall needs to be cleaned up, Blackburn Science Building is in need of renovation and James H. Richmond Hall needs to be rebuilt.

Despite these issues, Murray State has amazing things to offer its students. Highlighting the benefits of attending Murray State would require minimal extra funding while boosting enrollment.

Murray State is a safe and secure campus compared to those in bigger cities, and this should be advertised. Safety is a major factor for incoming students and their parents when choosing a school and makes current students feel better about attending this University.

Opportunities to research with professors exist in almost every field, even for undergraduates.

The Office of Research and Creative Activity has a research journal for Murray State students which is supposed to act as a recruitment tool. The journal, Steeplechase, shows incoming students that not only can they do research, but it can be published and they can present on it.

These opportunities need to be emphasized more because other Universities typically do not offer this experience until graduate school.

The intimate classroom size at Murray State is fairly unique to schools in the region. Students often have the ability to speak one on one with professors.

Students also get the feeling that professors care about them on an academic and personal level.

Few universities offer friendship and mentoring from professors for every student who seeks it, but Murray State does. Every incoming student should be made aware of this.

The Education Abroad programs here are unmatched by other schools of comparable size. They are affordable, diverse and fun. Murray State should make an effort to promote Study Abroad more.

Murray State is such a unique and diverse school with countless opportunities and benefits for students.

The issues are not difficult to solve and the benefits are not difficult to promote.

If the administration wants to boost enrollment, they should take the advice of their students about what needs to be done for the University.

 

Scroll to Top