School of Digital Sciences enrollment grows by nearly 70 percent
Editor’s Note: An incorrect version of this article appeared in the Monday, Feb. 8 edition of The Kent Stater. The correct version appears below.
Kent State School’s of Digital Sciences increased its enrollment by nearly 70 percent, according to the university’s 15-day numbers.
The overall undergraduate headcount across all eight campuses decreased by 0.28 percent from Spring 2015 to Spring 2016.
“Spring to spring retention is trending slightly downward,” said T. David Garcia, senior associate vice president for strategic enrollment management. “But this gives us an opportunity to take some action steps now to make sure this trend doesn’t continue for fall to fall (semesters).”
The university is attempting to increase retention rates, paying more than $2 million to 160over90, a third-party, Philadelphia-based creative services agency, to create the new marketing brand “Undeniably Kent State.”
President Beverly Warren said last January the rebranding is essential “in order to continue to serve our communities around us, as well as reach a strategic vision for our university,” according to a statement to the university.
In addition, all regional campuses exhibited decreasing enrollment. Only Kent’s campus increased; 27,397 to 27,922 students since last spring, a 1.92 percent increase.
Rachel Duthie is an administration reporter for The Kent Stater. Contact her at [email protected].