The Board of Visitors is considering increasing enrollment by 400 students over four years. While enrollment increases may threaten our social climate — which is tight-knit for a state flagship school — the Board’s proposal offers a mild increase that, if accommodated appropriately, would allow the University to better serve itself and its students.
The University enjoys the privileges of a mid-size school, with just over 15,000 undergraduates. Students are afforded the opportunities of a large institution with strong research and scholarship opportunities, in addition to name brand recognition and a robust alumni network. At the same time, the University, with about 10,000 fewer undergraduate students than our in-state rival Virginia Tech, is small enough to enable intimate learning and social environments for students. Our size allows us both to serve students from the Commonwealth and cultivate a personalized education for those who want it.
Significant expansion of enrollment would raise red flags, but this plan would only slightly increase the number of students — the introduction of 100 new students per year would probably go unnoticed by most. Expanded enrollment would likely increase the University’s tuition revenue. For current students, a mild enrollment expansion may push the University to support smaller majors or classes that do not garner enough interest, since there will be more students to fill those spots. As far as admissions, the qualified students who the admissions office places on the waiting list due to enrollment limitations will have a chance to earn their education here.
As a state school, the University should adjust its size to reflect Virginia’s growing population. Some logistical considerations accompany this proposal, such as how Housing and Residence Life would accommodate an influx in students. Moreover, classes such as introductory computer science which already cannot meet student demand may face further strain. So long as the University is able to ensure that the expansion happens smoothly, the Board of Visitors should pursue this enrollment increase.
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