No YSU Faculty Retrenchment Expected This Year
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – No Youngstown State University faculty retrenchment is expected this academic year as undergraduate enrollment is up 11% this fall.
Michael Peterson, YSU Board of Trustees chairman, made the announcement at the trustees’ regular meeting Thursday.
“Based upon the enrollment report, YSU administration does not anticipate retrenchment this academic year,” Peterson said.
Enrollment tops 12,000 students this semester, compared with less than 11,000 in the fall 2023 semester.
“Opportunities have emerged from the Eastern Gateway Community College wind down,” President Bill Johnson said. He added that 401 former Eastern Gateway students are pursuing associate’s degrees at YSU, and 74 former EGCC students are pursuing bachelor’s degrees.
But the growth also includes international students, which saw a 44% enrollment increase.
“Several years ago, we had only a single-digit enrollment of students from the nation of Vietnam,” Johnson said. “And now today, those students number more than 60.”
YSU also is working with area school districts to expand and enhance its College Credit Plus, the YSU president said. CCP enables seventh through 12th graders to earn college credit before high school graduation.
“That builds a pathway for students that will eventually, after high school, come to YSU to pursue their post-secondary education,” Johnson said. “We’ve increased that program by just slightly over 300 students.”
Graduate student enrollment is up more than 8%.
“That’s an all-time high with nearly 3,000 students,” he said.
YSU is also expanding efforts to reach students who have some college credit but haven’t earned their degrees, as well as active military personnel.
Johnson also said the fundraising effort for the Kilcawley Center renovation is reigniting. The total project cost is about $40 million.
“If everything goes well, and we believe it will, construction will begin next May,” he said. “That will take just over two years.”
Trustees also welcomed Zane Pericco of Youngstown, the new student trustee, and he was sworn into office.
The board also heard from students about their research, awards and activities, as well as Melissa Jackson, the new YSU women’s basketball coach.
Pictured at top: YSU President Bill Johnson delivers his report Thursday at the trustees’ regular meeting as board Vice Chairman Chuck George, left, and Chairman Michael Peterson listen.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
