UH enrollment surges by 5 percent

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer

Enrollment at the University of Hawai'i has risen for the second consecutive year, with a nearly 5 percent increase for the fall semester sending student numbers to their highest level since the mid-1990s, according to figures released yesterday by university admissions offices.

The two-year increase reverses a trend of dwindling enrollments that began in 1994 and strengthens a rebound from 15-year lows two years ago at Manoa and at Kaua'i, Leeward and Windward community colleges.

The surge in the overall system — 3.6 percent last year and 4.9 percent this year — parallels the tenure of UH president Evan Dobelle, whose presence has re-energized a Manoa campus in a slump for years.

Overall enrollment throughout the 10-campus system now stands at 48,477 — or 2,300 more students enrolled for the fall semester than a year ago.

Dobelle attributed the growth not to his tenure but to the excellence of the faculty and the quality of the curriculum, whose core has recently been updated and streamlined.

"The key to maintaining this momentum is having secure and stable funding that will reward excellence in our faculty and strengthen our outreach, curriculum and capital improvements across the system," he said.

Overall UH enrollment still remains below the 1994 high of 51,677.

Enrollment increased on all campuses except Honolulu Community College, which registered a decline of 156 students — 3.4 percent — because of a loss of students from O'ahu military bases. Many personnel were deployed overseas as part of the war on terrorism. However, the number of hours of instruction increased at HCC, which means that slightly fewer students are taking more courses.

The enrollment figures at individual campuses:

• UH-Manoa saw an increase of 1,108 students — 6.3 percent — for a total of 18,709 students.
• UH-Hilo topped 3,000 for the first time since 1991, shooting to 3,069, an increase of 5.4 percent or 157 students. Enrollment at the Big Island campus has been growing steadily since fall 1998.
• UH-West O'ahu's enrollment hit 834, up 13.8 percent — by far the biggest gain in the system. That amounts to 101 students.
• UH Community Colleges have a total enrollment of 25,865 — an overall increase of 3.7 percent. The largest increases were at Maui and Windward Community Colleges, both up 13.3 percent. Hawai'i Community College enrollment was up 7.4 percent, Kapi'olani Community College up 0.2 percent and Kaua'i and Leeward community colleges both up 4.8 percent.

University officials also expect that an additional 20,000 students will take advantage of noncredit programs statewide.