Queen's Senate approves enrolment targets

Queen's Senate approves enrolment targets

May 12, 2015

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Queen’s undergraduate student intake will increase this fall, as planned, and hold steady over the following two years, according to the enrolment targets for 2015 and 2016 that were approved by the university’s Senate, and the enrolment projections for 2017.

The target for the 2015 first-year direct-entry undergraduate class will increase to 4,422 students, as previously approved by Senate in 2014, compared to 4,109 in 2014. That number is forecast to remain unchanged in the 2016 enrolment targets approved by Senate at its April meeting and the 2017 enrolment projections. At the graduate level, a total intake of 2,027 students is expected in 2015, which includes off-campus programs.

“Demand for the university’s programs remains strong, with a growing number of prospective students selecting Queen’s as their first choice university,” says Daniel Woolf, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “That demand is reflective of Queen’s reputation for quality, and an increase in our student intake in 2015 will help the university continue to deliver the support services that promote student success, while maintaining its exceptional student learning experience.”

Undergraduate applications to Queen’s have increased over last year, while the total number of undergraduate applications to all Ontario universities has remained nearly unchanged.

Examples of student service enhancements at Queen's

  • Two new residence under construction will result in 445 net new residence spaces in 2015
  • Establishment of SOAR, QSuccess and Bounce Back to help ensure academic success for first-year students
  • Eight embedded counsellors in faculties and schools, up from three in 2011-12
  • Increase in the number of advisors in the Disability Service Office
  • Student Academic Success Services supports 40 per cent more students over 2011-12
  • Career Services introduced new initiatives such as major maps, majors night and the co-curricular opportunities directory
  • New programs and increased support for Aboriginal and international students
  • Half of incoming undergraduate students receive a scholarship or bursary

Enrolment targets consider institutional capacity

Alan Harrison, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), is chair of the university’s Strategic Enrolment Management Group (SEMG), which recommends short-term enrolment targets to the Senate Committee on Academic Development, for approval by Senate. The SEMG consults directly with faculties, schools and student service units to ensure sufficient capacity exists when setting targets, to ensure that the quality of the student experience remains high.

“The SEMG worked with academic units to ensure that the modest growth in the 2015 student intake will occur in academic programs where additional capacity exists,” says Provost Harrison. “The group also consulted closely with student service units on campus and the university’s residences to ensure that they continue to be able to meet students’ needs.”

Adding capacity in residences, student services

To help accommodate additional students, two new residence buildings are currently under construction. At the same time, a number of common rooms in other residences that were temporarily converted into bedrooms will revert back to common space. This will result in a net increase of 445 new residence spaces in fall 2015. In addition, the university has added capacity and introduced new programs in key student services, such as academic learning and transition supports, health and wellness resources, and services for Aboriginal and international students.

Each year, Queen’s reviews its three-year, rolling short-term enrolment projections as part of its strategic enrolment management process. The process is informed by the university’s long-term strategic enrolment management framework and takes into account many factors, including student demand and institutional capacity. The university is committed attracting greater numbers of Aboriginal students and increasing the proportion of international undergraduate students on campus.

Total enrolment at Queen’s for 2015-16 is projected to be 22,019, compared to 21,649 students in 2014-15. This includes all undergraduate and graduate students, including those not residing in Kingston, such as students in online professional master’s programs and those studying at the Bader International Study Centre.

View the full report on enrolment targets here