University of Hawaiʻi sees slight dip in enrollment

University of Hawaiʻi
Contact:
Daniel Meisenzahl, (808) 348-4936
UH Spokesman, UH Communications
Posted: Oct 11, 2019

Link to video soundbites of UH President Lassner and of various UH campuses: https://bit.ly/2M6SbrD
(more information at bottom of release)

Headcount enrollment at the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi System decreased by about 2 percent in the fall 2019 semester compared to fall 2018, from 51,063 students to 49,977 students. Nine of the 10 UH campuses saw reductions in enrollment, reflecting the national trend of declining enrollment since peak highs following the 2008 recession. Windward Community College is the only UH campus to see an enrollment increase with 2.4-percent growth.

“We continue to refine our analytics to understand very specifically our enrollment successes as well as shortfalls” said UH President David Lassner. ”In spite of the challenges in competing with a strong labor market, we performed well in many key areas including first-time freshmen, rising four-year graduation rates and continued early college success. We need to do more to increase student recruitment, retention and transfer within the system.”

Read more at UH News.

Link to video of UH President Lassner soundbites and of various UH campuses: https://bit.ly/2M6SbrD

David Lassner - UH President (9 seconds)
"We have work to do with recruitment, with retention and with increasing the number of transfer students within our system. Our analytics are telling us where we need to focus in all of those areas."

Lassner (12 seconds)
"Weʻre thrilled with increases in first time freshmen, um, as we increase graduation rates. We have the challenge of always replacing as many students at least as we graduated."

Lassner (13 seconds)
"The University of Hawaii system provides amazing opportunities for everyone in this state, regardless of your age, your academic preparation, which island youʻre on, the University of Hawaiʻi has a campus and a program for you."

Video broll (2 minutes, 45 seconds) of various UH campuses:

  • UH Manoa (4 shots)

  • UH West Oʻahu (5 shots)

  • UH Hilo (4 shots)

  • Windward CC (4 shots)

  • Kauaʻi CC (4 shots)