By Rafal Rogoza —
Numbers such as 2012, 666, 1986 and Knicks 76 – Heat 110 creep some people out. These numbers symbolize doomsday prophecies and tragedies. The number that should send chills through the student body is -3.5%. That’s how much NJCU’s enrollment has fallen the last ten years. It’s also the number that should make some people in Hepburn Hall sweat.
In the race for students NJCU took a few steps back from the starting line, while other schools took off. Schools that NJCU competes with for the best and brightest students keep growing; Montclair University 32.8%, Kean University 31.8%, Edison State College 124.8%, Bergen Community College 41.6%, and Hudson County Community College 76.6%.
A decline of -3.5 in enrollment effects everybody on campus. Tuition goes up, classes are cancelled, people lose jobs, and Grossnickle keeps crumpling.
I’m sure there are people working hard to boost enrollment. They tour potential students and sizzle the services the university has to offer. However, there is more that can be done if the campus community works together.
The university needs to reach out to students with a creative and entrepreneurial drive. I’m not referring to just honor students. It’s unnoticed talent on campus that the university should be reaching out to, to boost enrollment.
These are students that play at sold out rock concerts, make national headlines abroad, have unique contributions to scientific research, show off art work in abandoned warehouses, get their hands dirty in urban gardens, and just moved an audience at a local poetry slam.
For the next open house, the university should take the initiative and organize events with flair. A music show on the plaza behind Hepburn could make a tour of the campus more lively. Displaying work created by art students could simulate the atmosphere of a museum, lets cover up those bare walls and put them to use. Students that are leaders, organizers, and businessmen should confidently step up to the podium to brag about their success to potential students.
We need to show off and let the competition know that “Harvard on the boulevard” has what it takes to impress. Sitting quietly in the dark won’t get anyone’s attention.