Crowded colleges squeeze students

Washington college students expecting to waltz into the ivory halls of university life instead found themselves scrambling for admission this year – and it’s only going to get more crowded on campus.

The population bulge – created by the children of baby boomers – is generating a demand that is rising faster than the cash-starved state higher education system can handle. And the trend, called the boomer echo, is expected to last until 2008.

Washington State University stopped taking applications in May instead of leaving doors open a few extra months, its usual policy. Admission to transfer students closed in June, also earlier than usual.

Central Washington University closed its doors to freshmen and transfer students in June, which hasn’t happened in 20 years.

Western Washington University and Evergreen State College shut their doors to students after the application deadline in March, which they do every year to manage the admissions process.

But what has generated the most concern among college officials and students was the University of Washington’s announcement in July that 823 transfer students would have their admission deferred at least one quarter. They either have to delay their education or move to another school.

No one’s expecting any relief soon from the combination of a population spike in college-bound students and several consecutive years of cuts from higher education budgets.

“We’re at a glut,” said Jim Sulton, executive director of the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Board. “I believe calling this a crisis is not an overstatement.”

On the ballot this fall will be a League of Education Voters initiative asking the public to back a 1 percent sales tax increase expected to raise $1 billion for education. Of that, about $400 million would go to higher education and would create thousands of new enrollment slots for students.

Options for transfer students this fall are currently limited to the UW and CWU branch campuses, which offer a limited number of programs.

Door open at EWU

The good news is that students may still submit applications to Eastern Washington University in Cheney.

EWU, which draws most of its students from Eastern Washington, has not been hit with quite the same overwhelming demand experienced by state schools closer to Seattle. As other state universities turn away applicants, EWU is the only main campus leaving the door open.

Michelle Whittingham, EWU’s vice president of enrollment, said she doesn’t expect to close admissions before classes start in late September unless a flood of students apply. To stay on top of any potential spikes in enrollment, Whittingham monitors new applications. If there’s a tidal wave of new students coming, it hasn’t shown up yet, she said.

The numbers show that although EWU is still open for students, it has become more crowded.

EWU has doubled its freshman class from 672 in 1997 to 1,345 last fall. The largest class in EWU history is expected to start in September.

The increased demand has made EWU more selective. Last fall, almost 20 percent of freshmen who applied to EWU were turned away, twice the rejection rate of 1998, according to admission office figures. Numbers for fall 2004 won’t be determined until early October.

In the fall of 2002, the presidents of UW and WSU tried to turn the spotlight of the annual Apple Cup football rivalry into an opportunity to explain how state funding has lagged behind demand. They released figures showing that from 1991 to 2000, spending on full-time students decreased 9.1 percent for WSU and 15.9 percent for the UW.

The funding problems have not gone unnoticed by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

“Certainly we need more space,” Sulton said. “At some of our institutions, it’s undeniable that the inn is full and they need more capacity to provide accommodations for those who want to enroll. But primarily, we need adequate funding for higher education, which always seems to elude us.”

Colleges ask the state Legislature for more funds, and the state wonders why the colleges don’t understand that there isn’t any more money to give, Sulton said.

The HEC board completed a master plan in July that calls for a 12 percent increase in the number of students who earn degrees by 2012, a bump of 45,000. Universities will be asked to focus more on results and outcomes. Sulton said he expects state lawmakers will introduce a number of bills this coming session to implement the master plan. There will most likely be incentives for graduating more students within four years, which is expected to move more people through the system faster.

High school students with good tests scores won’t be affected much by the tightening college system, Sulton said. While the very competitive UW has turned away some top students, other schools will be able to accommodate an above-average student.

“The student who is a C student, or is not getting it yet from a parents’ perspective of how important it is to work harder in school and take tougher courses, should be very concerned,” Sulton said.

Anxious students

Not everyone believes good students will be spared.

WSU’s financial aid office handles 150 to 200 calls daily from students who are nervous about maintaining their admission status and call to ensure their paperwork is in order.

“I think this year and perhaps next year is actually the lull before the storm,” said Janet Danley, WSU’s interim executive director for enrollment services. “For the next three to five years, there are going to be significant numbers of students who may not be accommodated in higher education.”

The baby boom echo is expected to peak and flatten out between 2008 and 2010.

Until then, stories of qualified students not getting into competitive state schools will likely become more common.

Gretchen McDevitt, a Ferris High School counselor, said about 25 Ferris seniors were accepted into the University of Washington for the upcoming school year, which starts Sept. 29.

McDevitt was shocked when one of her students with a 3.72 GPA, who applied on time and possessed other good credentials, was passed over for instant admission and eventually rejected by the UW.

The Ferris counselor called the UW admissions office to try and help her student, but it was no use, she said. “They basically said they had a lot of applications,” McDevitt said.

All freshmen rejected by the UW have the option of applying next year or attending another school. Only transfer students were given the option of a deferred enrollment.

To plan ahead, future college students need to prepare for tests and score well. Smart students will also consider their second choices instead of banking on one school. High school counselors can help with applications and deadlines. With competition increasing, this wouldn’t be the best time to let grades drop.

WSU graduate student Jeffri Bohlscheid said he supports the university’s actions to cap the student population if that’s what it takes to maintain the quality of education.

Faculty members are starting to leave because of a lack of salary increases, he said.

“WSU has had to deal with funding cuts every year since I got here” in 1998, Bohlscheid said.