Slippery Rock is 7 students short of record

Enrollment of foreign students is down.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
SLIPPERY ROCK -- Enrollment at Slippery Rock University continues to climb and this fall is only seven students short of 1991's record enrollment.
University President Dr. Robert Smith told the SRU Council of Trustees at its quarterly meeting Friday that even though enrollment climbed 1.7 percent, the 7,923 mark was lower than had been expected. Final enrollment figures will be determined Sept. 13.
Smith said several factors kept the school from surpassing the record. Foreign student enrollment, for example, is down to 111 from 250 in 2001. Smith attributed the decrease to the increased difficulty foreign students have obtaining visas due to the federal Patriot Act.
Medicare cuts
He also pointed out that graduate student and postbaccalaureate enrollment is down 114 students over last year. One factor which may have contributed to the decline, he said, is Medicare cuts over the past few years for physical therapy, which has affected SRU's physical therapy graduate program.
The university did post a 19 percent gain in out-of-state enrollment due to a new nonresident tuition policy and a 13 percent gain in black American enrollment.
Facility opens
Smith also reported that Aug. 24 marked the opening of the Regional Learning Alliance, a 76,000-square-foot facility near Cranberry Township, which is a collaboration of 11 educational institutions, including Slippery Rock.
The facility is devoted to offering seminars and classes for work force development. The grand opening is Oct. 15.
Trustees also approved an increase in the student parking fee from $10 to $25 per year. Students who only attend summer school will pay $10. Trustees agreed to consider extending the increase to staff and faculty and make a decision at its Dec. 17 meeting.
Trustees approved a 2004-05 budget request of $85.2 million, which will be submitted to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Board of Governors for a final decision.
Rating system
Smith reported that the university is doing better according to the state system of education's rating system, which measures such factors as fund raising, four- and six-year graduation rates, diversity, percent of accredited programs and percent of faculty with terminal degrees.
SRU ranked last in the 14-school state system in 2001 but was ranked third in 2003-04.
Smith also noted that under the direction of Dr. Robert Watson, vice president of student life, has started a "Man 2 Man" program on campus to encourage men to help stop violence against women.
The program encourages men to intercede with others to prevent sexual abuse, harassment and debasement of women.
A new student trustee, Angele Waugaman, also was seated on the council.