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Post by blueandgold on Jun 10, 2016 10:59:37 GMT -5
Anyone know how the enrollment numbers are looking for incoming class? Some decent campus improvement ideas here but need qualified pupils in sufficent numbers ...
Heard through the grapevine that the current freshman hard enrollment number for Fall, 2016 expected to withstand " summer melt " currently stands at approx. 800 students, which while 75 more than last Fall's disappointing 725 ( 135 below projected / anticipated ), is still 60 less than the 860 freshman that enrolled back in Fall, 2014. So the nettlesome question remains : can this year's enrollment be considered meaningful " progress " ?
+10% > -16% so yes, all things considered.
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Post by gymrat67 on Jun 10, 2016 11:43:15 GMT -5
Heard through the grapevine that the current freshman hard enrollment number for Fall, 2016 expected to withstand " summer melt " currently stands at approx. 800 students, which while 75 more than last Fall's disappointing 725 ( 135 below projected / anticipated ), is still 60 less than the 860 freshman that enrolled back in Fall, 2014. So the nettlesome question remains : can this year's enrollment be considered meaningful " progress " ?
+10% > -16% so yes, all things considered.
With all due respect, B&G, methinks the answer to this question is not quite so simplistic. Is zero growth for two years considered progress ? For example : A mere 5% annual growth ( over 2014 ) in the size of the freshman class for years 2015 and 2016 would have increased the size of the freshman class for this Fall to 948.
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MisterD
The Baptist Himself
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Post by MisterD on Jun 10, 2016 11:48:58 GMT -5
Shoot the middle here. Its not back to where it should be but its progressing in the right direction. Its "ok".
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Post by luhoopsfan on Jun 10, 2016 11:50:17 GMT -5
One does not merely reverse trends in one single year, the fact that the enrollment numbers have stabilized and begun to reverse course toward growth is a good sign.
Step 1: Stop the bleeding Step 2: Heal the injury Step 3: Work back to full strength and ultimately improve
Slow and steady growth in any industry is stronger and more sustainable than an overnight success.
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Post by durenduren on Jun 10, 2016 12:57:11 GMT -5
I think the Fall of 2014 class set an unrealistic barometer. I might be mistaken, but I believe it was the largest class in university history, or at least in the last few decades. I don't think the University wants numbers that high, nor can sustain numbers that high currently, either. 800 is a very, very healthy number. The difference between 725 and 800, from a financial standpoint is a phenomenal increase. While I'm over-simplifying it to the millionth degree by not accounting for scholarships and a ton of other factors that adjust these numbers, look at this way:
725 students x 40k x 4yrs = 116,000,000 800 students x 40k x 4yrs = 128,000,000
You're talking a $12mil increase (very roughly) to the operating budget over four years. Given the changes to the enrollment process, and the very public changes and struggles the University has endured, I think we're heading in a very positive direction.
All things considered, it's pretty damn good, and it could have been alot worse. I expect many of the announced projects and changes (branding, website, etc) to support and sustain the enrollment efforts for years to come.
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MisterD
The Baptist Himself
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Post by MisterD on Jun 10, 2016 15:06:04 GMT -5
Hi do you think that extra $12MM will go to a new arena???
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Post by durenduren on Jun 10, 2016 16:05:08 GMT -5
Hi do you think that extra $12MM will go to a new arena??? Google doesn't like that question.
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Post by charmcityexplorer on Jun 10, 2016 18:22:07 GMT -5
I think the Fall of 2014 class set an unrealistic barometer. I might be mistaken, but I believe it was the largest class in university history, or at least in the last few decades. I don't think the University wants numbers that high, nor can sustain numbers that high currently, either. 800 is a very, very healthy number. The difference between 725 and 800, from a financial standpoint is a phenomenal increase. While I'm over-simplifying it to the millionth degree by not accounting for scholarships and a ton of other factors that adjust these numbers, look at this way: 725 students x 40k x 4yrs = 116,000,000 800 students x 40k x 4yrs = 128,000,000 You're talking a $12mil increase (very roughly) to the operating budget over four years. Given the changes to the enrollment process, and the very public changes and struggles the University has endured, I think we're heading in a very positive direction. All things considered, it's pretty damn good, and it could have been alot worse. I expect many of the announced projects and changes (branding, website, etc) to support and sustain the enrollment efforts for years to come. Your "not accounting for scholarships" and, more particularly, financial assistance, is a critical missing part to the logic in the equations in your post. Madame President stated during her tour appearance in DC that most of our students are from the five zip codes contiguous to 19141. As you can imagine, most of these kids need substantial assistance to attend La Salle, which is an unsustainable business model. So, I'll flip your math and suggest that 800 students from the current demographic means up to 75 more who will require thousands of dollars over four years to matriculate, as opposed to 75 more who will generate an additional $12 million. I still don't see how spending money on a new arena in lieu of increasing our endowment will address this critical issue, which the "Build it and They Will Come" crowd on this Board doesn't want to confront. Ok, now shoot your arrows (or worse) at me.
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Post by durenduren on Jun 10, 2016 19:27:15 GMT -5
Yes, you're accurate on many of those points, including the frightening geographic pull. But 800 is better than 725 any way you slice it. And when you're talking a school La Salle'so size, 75 warm bodies paying tuition can be make-or-break.
Thought I made it clear that I wasn't accounting for scholarships and the million other factors, though. When you're 60 bodies short of the highest enrollment in the university history, things aren't bad.
The university is doing some creative, unheard of things to uniquely address the geographically-centeted recruiting issue. I expect that to improve, but I agree on all your points, though I think things are trending up if that 800 figure holds over the summer.
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Post by olneyman on Jun 10, 2016 22:03:05 GMT -5
". Madame President stated during her tour appearance in DC that most of our students are from the five zip codes contiguous to 19141. As you can imagine, most of these kids need substantial assistance to attend La Salle, which is an unsustainable business model. [/quote]"
Charm City are you sure about the comment that "most of our students come from the five zip codes that are contiguous to 19141? I'm having a hard time thinking that more than 50% of our students come from Olney, Germantown, Oak Lane, and Nicetown, Logan. Does that sound right to you?
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Post by luhoopsfan on Jun 10, 2016 22:53:55 GMT -5
I'm guessing it's the 5 counties maybe - bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Chester and PHL
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Post by charmcityexplorer on Jun 11, 2016 12:05:36 GMT -5
". Madame President stated during her tour appearance in DC that most of our students are from the five zip codes contiguous to 19141. As you can imagine, most of these kids need substantial assistance to attend La Salle, which is an unsustainable business model. "M Charm City are you sure about the comment that "most of our students come from the five zip codes that are contiguous to 19141? I'm having a hard time thinking that more than 50% of our students come from Olney, Germantown, Oak Lane, and Nicetown, Logan. Does that sound right to you? [/quote] It was a Sunday morning brunch, and I drank coffee and nothing else, so I can say that my senses were in no way impaired. My wife, also present and always sober (she's the responsible one in our union) just confirmed that she heard the same thing. I can't say for sure that it was a "majority" but it left me with the impression that a decent number of students come from those zip codes. Regardless, I was very surprised but I graduated more than 25 years ago and have not kept up with the student body demographic, other than what had been published in the now defunct President's Report, which hasn't been released since 2012. Similarly, no Athletic Department report has been issued in a few years. Hopefully they will be published this year. Stakeholders have a right to know how the institutions they are asked to support are utilizing those resources. But, I digress with this rant. The two take-aways for me from that visit were: (1) the need to enroll more students that have the ability to pay more toward the cost of attending La Salle; and (2) addressing more critical facility needs than a new arena. For example, the North Dorms (as they were called when Br. Patrick ran the show) were antiquated when I lived in them (when they were still called North Dorms). Do today's college students want to share three shower stalls at the end of the hall among twenty floor mates when our competitors are offering them private bathrooms? (I'm assuming they haven't been remodeled since the mid-'80's, but maybe they have?) That, I think, influences a student's decision on where to matriculate more than whether we have a state-of-the-art basketball venue, though I will acknowledge that a lot of students can be swayed based on whether the basketball or football program is ranked. And look at how well that worked for Baylor. Again, I digress. I don't oppose a new arena, but I am in the camp that says we must address other needs first, assuming that only one major project at a time can be undertaken. Madame President, please feel to correct or clarify any of the above observations if I "misremembered" anything from your DC visit.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2016 11:57:25 GMT -5
No, Charm City, I think you have pretty well captured the message; no need to clarify or correct. I will confirm that La Salle has been recruiting a large number of our students from a geographic 'core' that is very close to campus. While some students join us from farther afield, for the most part, we have come to be seen as a local school rather than a destination school that students travel to from greater distance. Again, this doesn't apply to 'all', but it does to 'most'. In the same way that we have become less diverse geographically, we have also become less diverse economically. La Salle proudly serves a large number of students who are eligible for Federal Pell grants - in fact, over 40% of our students qualify for that. So, while this is certainly on point when it comes to our mission, it adds some real strain around paying the bills. For last year's freshmen class, 97% received aid and the average package was roughly $25,000 (including both merit-based and need-based). So, you will see a lot of focus in the months and years ahead on achieving more diversity and approaching balance in our recruiting - geographically, economically, etc.
And you are also right, Charm, that we have some seriously deferred maintenance to address. I don't believe the North Dorms have been renovated since your time here - at least not in any major way that I'm aware of - and you are right on when you point out that our students now will not settle for housing options that we settled for in the 80s. So, we are working on a series of campus priorities over the next three years that will add some important new spaces to support learning, living and wellness.
And as for the fan experience around our sports and basketball in particular, that is a priority and we are working actively on that now. Using Steve Degnan's major gift as a springboard, we have a great committee that is in place and working on identifying how best to move forward with enhancing that experience. This approach will require a number of different lenses and we are committed to working on all of them. Early days, but the work is underway.
The good news is...we are going to get there! Our Board of Trustees is extraordinary and very committed to turning all the dials that will get La Salle to where it should be on the broader landscape of higher education. Exciting days!!
That's all from this corner. Enjoy this gorgeous summer day!
Colleen
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Post by luhoopsfan on Jun 12, 2016 12:56:54 GMT -5
Hands down the best president in the Big 5
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Post by stlexplorer on Jun 12, 2016 16:01:19 GMT -5
Thanks so much for the update. Just this communication is such a breath of fresh air around here.
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Post by olneyman on Jun 12, 2016 16:08:12 GMT -5
Thanks to CC and the CIC for the explanation
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Post by SICguy84 on Jun 12, 2016 22:18:47 GMT -5
So this "core" is the very close neighborhoods of Philadelphia? And the school no longer pulls predominantly, as it has for decades, from the four suburban counties, South Jersey, and NYC outskirts?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2016 22:33:12 GMT -5
So this "core" is the very close neighborhoods of Philadelphia? And the school no longer pulls predominantly, as it has for decades, from the four suburban counties, South Jersey, and NYC outskirts? No. Five counties, right? Not the same as zip codes.
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Post by lsupedro on Jul 12, 2016 14:20:49 GMT -5
Thanks for the updates, Madame President! I am curious to know if they are replacing the tennis courts that are no longer on campus.
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joe
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Post by joe on Jul 14, 2016 14:07:12 GMT -5
I would think the tennis teams would practice on the 4 courts that are still there. Last year the teams played all their matches on the road. I would think the travel would be hard on the coach and players. La Salle should move the courts to another location. The area around the courts used to be a beautiful setting on campus. I hope the area has not lost it's charm with the construction of the new building.
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westcoast
Walk-On
What is Dr. G DOING THIS SEASON?
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Post by westcoast on Jul 15, 2016 16:25:36 GMT -5
Comment on Madam President's comments.
WOW !!!!!!
Colleen is "THE BEST" communicator President in my 56 year association with la Salle ( Patrick Ellis was good, but Coleen is the best)
Impressed with her analysis of the problems and her plans.
Stupid question on my part: A significant number of schools have been recruiting 'heavy' in ASIA. Students there look favorably on a U.S. education in a major city.
Foreign students normally pay full freight on tuition etc.( some ARAB countries pay tuition etc for citizens attending U.S. schools) Japanese students have a tough time getting admitted to Japanese universities and have the financial resources to seek an American education. should we have a plan for foreign recruiting? I like the idea of having a international diversity of students. great networking and helps gain appreciation of global social issues. i know you have a lot of irons in the fire, just one more idea for down the road perhaps
Madam President, I for one appreciate your energy. Thank you and God bless.
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Post by gymrat67 on Jul 22, 2016 12:17:51 GMT -5
The good thing is that if the pre-development deal can lead to an established relationship with a 3rd party, the school won't have it's usual problem of having all its capital tied into one project at a time and slowing the overall growth/change of the campus. Essentially then new dorms will be outsourced, which is fine because it allows the school to focus on the priority of making a great community for the students and alums through its academic and social offerings. That deal essentially shrinks the usual timeline for things to change on campus exponentially and at the same time gives the school a major visual to point toward in terms of exciting changes and why we should all continue to support them financially. Gone are the days of, 1st we do the new dorms on South Campus, then we do Science Center, Then we do Business School, then we do (hopefully) athletic facility, then we do, whatever...now you can have multiple projects running at the same time. Savvy move. Very wise post. My only catch, I haven't seen these pre-development deals used on academic or university-used buildings/properties yet, only apartment buildings developed and managed in lieu of dormitories. For those that aren't familiar. La Salle owns the area of apartments on Wister Avenue. They strike a deal for a company to build a 7-story high-rise building of apartments. La Salle leases the land to this company for 50 years. In those 50 years, the property is privately managed, but a deal will be in place to count this as an on-campus housing option to steer students there. But that means no La Salle facilities management, no housing management but a fresh, new shiny housing option with little financial output. After 50 years, the management company would leave the property and sole ownership and management would return to La Salle. University of the Sciences plans new dorm on West Philly campus. www.philly.com/philly/business/real_estate/commercial/20160721_University_of_the_Sciences_plans_new_dorm_on_West_Philly_campus.html
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Post by durenduren on Jul 22, 2016 12:30:13 GMT -5
Very wise post. My only catch, I haven't seen these pre-development deals used on academic or university-used buildings/properties yet, only apartment buildings developed and managed in lieu of dormitories. For those that aren't familiar. La Salle owns the area of apartments on Wister Avenue. They strike a deal for a company to build a 7-story high-rise building of apartments. La Salle leases the land to this company for 50 years. In those 50 years, the property is privately managed, but a deal will be in place to count this as an on-campus housing option to steer students there. But that means no La Salle facilities management, no housing management but a fresh, new shiny housing option with little financial output. After 50 years, the management company would leave the property and sole ownership and management would return to La Salle. University of the Sciences plans new dorm on West Philly campus. www.philly.com/philly/business/real_estate/commercial/20160721_University_of_the_Sciences_plans_new_dorm_on_West_Philly_campus.htmlThere's a connection with La Salle there...
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Post by gymrat67 on Sept 26, 2016 11:52:42 GMT -5
There's a connection with La Salle there... Campus Apartments of Philadelphia ?
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Post by gymrat67 on Sept 26, 2016 12:21:29 GMT -5
Per jellybean and blueandgold : American Campus Communities Inc of Austin, TX.
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Post by gymrat67 on Jun 30, 2021 16:26:31 GMT -5
The "enrollment levels are down substantially" part combined with the "La Salle is doing less to attract students compared to other regional competition" and the "there's less high schoolers going to college and/or looking at expensive private options" part should be more important than a nursing home, because we're getting run out of the water by our competition. And that isn't just a basketball conversation -- we're losing traction in the regional university hierarchy, and if you think otherwise you're crazy. I don't expect this to be a popular stance, and it'll probably piss people off. But this is what needs to be said, because it's the damn truth whether or not you want to admit it. La Salle might have a nursing home soon, but we might also creep ever-further to financial juncture that's going to require more difficult decisions unless we start doing more to attract students. We're merely treading water right now, and if that sounds great to you while pretty much every other school in the Philadelphia area is finding ways to push the envelope and reinvent themselves, then take the old-school approach and let La Salle remain La Salle with some 'wise sages' living in the middle of campus. I don't care if you put the retired brothers on the moon, unless we hit our target enrollment figures in May, we're going to be operating under tight financial constraints. When you bring a class fifty freshman short of your target figure, those fifty annual tuition payments that are missing become a financial burden for four full years, until they graduate and those bodies can (hopefully) be replaced. This has been happening, and it really stifles growth and prosperity at a school the size of La Salle. And that means you can kiss goodbye to any big improvements in many areas, including that mythical new arena and that repeating myth of the "armory entrance to campus" bullcrap. But congrats, you can see the retired Christian Brothers as you stumble back from a party on your way to South Campus - it ain't gonna pay the bills... I think the majority of us are in the same boat -- we're tired of hearing of grand pipe dreams that are dead upon arrival, and we want to see that a commitment and investment to transforming this university is being made, rather than being fed the same rhetoric we've gotten for years. The nursing home was basically the let-down announcement of the decade, even if it is a nice gesture. BTW, you must never have lived in Neumann on South Campus - now that was an asylum. NPOA. The nursing home idea sounds great to graduates that spend a few days on campus a year. Putting that at the center of buildings...as a centerpiece...is insane from a prospective students standpoint. There comes a point where you have to start making smart decisions, not folksy, passionate ones. Trip down memory lane ... We were all " waiting for the announcement " back in 2015 also.
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