Panel supports study on collaboration

The resolution supports collaboration among Northeast Ohio universities.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A committee of the Youngstown State University trustees has approved a resolution supporting proposed legislation for a study commission to look at collaboration among Northeast Ohio universities.
The external relations committee will recommend the resolution to the full YSU board when it meets Dec. 13.
The committee, which met Tuesday in Moser Hall, approved an amended version of the draft resolution. The revised resolution has some word changes, using the word approach in place of system. It reads, in part, "a more collaborative approach to public higher education in Northeast Ohio could increase access, foster an integrated approach of graduate education and research to promote economic development and provide an increased synergy in administrative functions ... ."
YSU joined Cleveland State and the University of Akron in endorsing the legislation to create the Universities of Northeast Ohio Study Commission. Also involved are Kent State University and Northeast Ohio Universities College of Medicine. The legislation was introduced Tuesday.
Enrollment issues
In another session with the academic and student affairs committees, the topics turned to enrollment and student retention.
Spring enrollment is 95 percent of the fall enrollment, said Dr. Cynthia Anderson, vice president for student affairs, and a handout indicated that number is 13,183 students. "We're up 28 percent from last year at this time," she said; that figure was 12,812 students.
"We identified some areas of retention to enhance appeal for students to stay on campus," she said.
Enrollment highlights emphasized by Anderson and Dr. Thomas Maraffa, special assistant to YSU President David C. Sweet, are: reversal of enrollment decline from previous year, highest enrollment growth in Ohio since fall 2000, and minority enrollment growth.
Maraffa said YSU's goal was to enroll 14,000 students for 2008. "That means about 400 per year in the next two years," he said. "It's doable but challenging."
Conscious efforts are paying off in a slow by steady fashion, Maraffa said of enrollment. "It's dependent on the cycle of spring high school graduations."
Numbers
Some highlights are:
Returning undergraduates, 8,533.
Previous spring high school graduates from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, 1,305.
Incoming undergraduate former students, 494.
First-time students (prior year high school graduation), 491.
Previous spring high school graduates outside of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, 420.
In spring 2007, the high school graduating classes from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties total 7,555, which is 374 more students than the previous spring. Many of these graduates will enroll at YSU.