Enrollment at the University of Delaware remains strong and steady, even in the face of recent external challenges, and it will take continued creativity, flexibility and persistence to sustain that trend in the future, President Dennis Assanis said at the Faculty Senate’s October 7 meeting.

Since 2016, UD’s total undergraduate enrollment on the Newark campus has been about 18,000, plus or minus about 300, Assanis said. The incoming class of first-time, full-time students this fall was lower than expected, though, because of an uncharacteristically high melt rate, which is the number of students who pay their deposit but do not ultimately enroll. Instead of a typical 5% to 6%, the melt rate this year was 9.3%, he said.

Factors for the increased melt included delays and errors with the federal FAFSA form and other financial aid issues, a national trend among students to deposit at more than one institution, and high rates of visa delays and denials among international students, Assanis said. Most other institutions nationwide experienced similar issues this year, leading to declines in total enrollment elsewhere.

Assanis said UD’s strong academic programs, commitment to the teaching mission, research opportunities and student life are some of the areas that separate the University from other institutions.

Looking ahead, UD and other institutions will soon begin to feel the effects of a “demographic cliff,” when the number of high school graduates begins to drop, especially in the Northeast. Projections show declines over the next several years in Delaware and the surrounding states, which account for 76% of UD’s applicants and 89% of accepted offers.

Strategies to maintain enrollment include diversifying and expanding UD’s marketing of bachelor’s and master’s programs beyond the Northeast, creating a national presence and growing pathways for a UD education, including dual-enrollment partnerships with other institutions, new and existing 4+1 programs, expansion of associate’s degree programs and stronger engagement with potential transfer students, Assanis said. Also, UD must remain affordable for families, reach more demographically diverse populations, and increase academic support and wellbeing services for students, he said.

“As we work on our enrollment plan with diligence we must focus on all pathways, whether student-driven or formally articulated, because they lead students to success,” Assanis said. “Recruitment doesn’t end when we receive deposits; we must continue to recruit students through their academic journey at UD.” 

Assanis also said graduate student enrollment has grown, especially among international students. Increasing the minimum stipend for funded graduate students will also help UD attract and enroll more students.

Assanis said the University’s FY25 budget includes a projected shortfall of $20 million to $40 million, which is significant but lower than what was anticipated in the spring. The path forward is about growing revenues instead of only cutting expenses, he said. Strategies include increased enrollment during the winter and summer sessions, an increased yield of spring transfer students, higher enrollment in continuing education programs that start in January, and more external funding for graduate students.

“With respect to making sure our budgets are stable and sustainable for the long haul, the work we are doing now — unit transparency, balanced revenues, empowering faculty and staff — has helped,” Assanis said. “It requires a strong partnership between everyone, working together.”

Provost Laura Carlson added that she has been working with the Faculty Senate budget committee and other partners on making budget information available down to the unit level. 

Carlson described the process underway, reinforcing the idea that standing obligations will be honored as base budgets for units are determined with the goal of getting all as close to balanced as possible. “Units will be empowered, through conversations with deans, chairs and faculty, to decide how to utilize their budget,” she said.

Assanis said the University, like many institutions nationwide, is dealing with a large backlog of deferred-maintenance projects. UD’s strategy to reduce the backlog is “to rethink all of our spaces on campus,” including consolidating spaces, identifying buildings to be repurposed or razed (may be paired with new building), exploring private partnerships, investing in new buildings through philanthropic support and continuing to advocate for state capital funds, Assanis said. For example, Sharp Lab will be the focus of the University’s capital appropriation request to the state this year, he said. 

In addition, the President and Provost will be allocating a special fund of $5 million for classroom and instructional technology upgrades that will make a meaningful difference to the daily lives of faculty and students.

Carlson added that the protocol for addressing deferred maintenance in classrooms and laboratories has been revamped to make the process more efficient and transparent.

“The efficiency of this process will, for example, help with faculty hiring plans,” Carlson said. She explained that the goal is to be able to plan the timing of renovations so that labs are ready in advance of faculty coming on board.

Carlson also said that upgrades to classroom technology will be phased, prioritizing the old equipment in frequently used spaces and renovations to spaces that impact day-to-day activities, such as replacing seats in large classrooms. The University is also considering the option of providing lock-down browsers, a software tool that will limit students’ internet access during exams.

Carlson said an international research survey has been created by Ravi Ammigan, associate provost for international programs, Delphis Levia, professor of ecohydrology, and Heather Kelly, director of institutional research. The goal is to provide support to faculty who want to conduct international research. “If we already have support in another country, we want to be able to utilize those resources and relationships,” she said. “So, this survey will be used to create a database for those who do not already have established relationships in other countries where they are interested in conducting research.”

Also at the meeting, Senate President Vickie Fedele, associate professor of English and women and gender studies in the Associate in Arts Program, updated the senate on meetings between the executive committee and the Board of Trustees. At the recent board retreat, eight senators and senate committee chairs participated in break-out discussions about the University’s budget, enrollment and academic programs. Also, the Senate Executive Committee is working with Board Chair Terri Kelly to broaden opportunities for more interaction between trustees and the faculty, she said. 

The senate also heard from President-Elect and parliamentarian John Jebb, associate professor of English, on the importance of Robert's Rules of Order. He explained what the senate can do through resolutions, how debate can proceed and why rules of decorum are necessary during discussions.

Also at the meeting:

• Fedele also announced the availability of Curriculog training videos and the curriculum proposal deadlines:

  • New and revised CAS programs – Oct. 25

  • New and revised CAS courses – Nov. 8

  • Non-CAS courses – Dec. 13

  • Non-CAS programs

    • Recommended deadline – Jan. 17, 2025

    • Absolute deadline – Feb. 7, 2025

• Michael O’Neal, professor of earth science, was unanimously elected as a member of the Committee on Committees and Nominations.

• There was a unanimous confirmation of appointments to senate committees:

  • Promotion and tenure: Kali Kniel and Sean Zdenek

  • Undergraduate studies: Mike McCamley and Alexander De Rosa

  • General education: Vincenzo Ellis

  • Student and faculty honors: Jing Gao

  • Library, Museum and Press: Alisa Moldavanova

• In new business, Brad Thompson, associate professor of mathematics, introduced a resolution on behalf of the senate’s Budget Committee to make UD’s athletics budget available to the Knight Commission. 

Further information about the Faculty Senate, including meeting minutes and agendas, can be found on its website.