This post is one part of many in my series as I point out some facts and figures from a special financial review that shed light on real problems affecting UNBSJ as well as UNB as a whole. I will compile a few relevant quotations from the financial review, and offer a brief summary to bring it all together.
“As with most universities, UNB’s student enrolments have increased over the past decade. According to Statistics Canada, national student enrolment increases were due to three main factors. The demand for a university education increased as a result of the restructuring of the Canadian economy over the past 25 years. Students responded by enrolling at universities in order to fulfill the labor market stipulations for entry-level jobs, many of which now require higher post-secondary qualifications. Finally, Ontario’s double cohort, commencing in fall 2003, contributed to an influx of grades 12 and grade 13 students, who graduated simultaneously. This double cohort will be completed in fall 2007 enrolment, with graduation in May 2008.” (page 10)
“[Between 2001-02 and 2004-05, UNB experienced] significant increase in student enrolment, which rose from 9,947 full-time equivalent students to 11,106. This enrolment growth was the result of new student recruitment approaches and techniques, the impact of the double cohort of Ontario students and successful international student recruitment, mainly affecting the Saint John campus. These positive results have diminished significantly as overall enrolment levels stabilized and have started to decrease marginally.” (page 20)
The decrease in enrollment observed this year is not surprising to the universities, especially given the factors above and decreasing numbers of high school graduates.
The graph clearly shows an overall trend in the upwards direction, and one must expect this to level off eventually. This is precisely what is happening now, and a few other factors may cause other marginal drops. Despite this, there is no evidence of a critical mass shifting away from university education.
In my next post, I will look at why UNBSJ is best positioned at playing a vital role in offsetting these declines in enrolment.
Tags: n.b., saint john, save unbsj, unb, unbsj
[...] financial report (PDF), part of the resources he has developed for the SRC’s PSE Task Force : here is the first. In it, Saulnier debunks recent reports of dramatic drops in enrolment. [...]