current trends, challenges, and opportunities in higher education

Current Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities in Higher Education

Augustine IacopelliAssistant Director

Wichita State University, West Campus

History of the West Campus

From Our Students’ Perspectives

• West and Main Campus Class Registration

• Degree-Bound Population• General Education v.

Upper-Level Courses• Seven of ten students learned about West

Campus classes from our schedule insert• Nearly all would recommend us to others

West Campus Mission

Wichita State University satellite campuses are committed to providing comprehensive

educational opportunities in the satellite facilities of the Wichita MSA.

The satellite campuses support the opportunities available on the main

campus and serve as a conduit to the main campus experience.

Recent Changes

• Bookstore Converted to 17th Classroom

• Additional Computers for Student Use

• New Welcome Desk in Lobby• Focus on Workforce

Development

Trends

• Increased Competition• Increased Accessibility vs. Increasing Costs• Flat traditional Student Enrollment; Growing

Non-Traditional Student Enrollment• Changing Focus from Institution-Centered to

Student Centered Mindset• Economic Uncertainty Being Offset by

Stimulus Spending

Workforce Development Opportunities

Retraining Money Available Displaced Workershttp://www.wichita.edu/retool

1. Register with Workforce Development Center2. Apply for WSU Admission3. File FAFSA4. Enroll in Courses

Education for “Clunkers?”• 15,000 local workers

aided by grant so far• $25M Waiting on

additional National Emergency Grant

• Still accepting applications for when additional funds become available