Newly-released enrollment numbers for the University of Montana show there are now about 1,000 fewer students on its Missoula campuses compared to spring semester last year.
University Spokesman Cary Shimek:
"There were no surprises. The spring numbers correlate with what we expected because of what happened in the fall."
What happened in the fall was a 6.5 percent enrollment drop over 2014. Enrollment at the University and Missoula College have dropped each year since peaking at more than 15,000 students in 2011.
"What we need to do is we’re going to continue to put a greater emphasis on our recruiting and outreach," Shimek says. "We have revamped our recruitment strategies and materials in the last couple of years, but it takes time to see results."
The university is currently working to shrink a budget shortfall caused by ongoing declines in enrollment. In January officials announced they will reduce faculty by 192 positions to help cut costs.
