OLYMPIA, Wash. – John Fraire, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment at Washington State University, told the state House Higher Education Committee Friday that WSU’s enrollment will continue to climb with a focus on reaching underserved populations.
“We started recruiting everywhere throughout the state,” he said.
The fall freshman class of 4,079 fell just short of last year’s record of 4,176, with both easily eclipsing the previous record of 3,411. Fraire said the university will strive to continue to enroll freshman classes that exceed 4,000 students.
More than 31 percent of the students enrolled are students of color, an increase over last year’s 27 percent and twice what the percentage was five years ago. In particular, growth has been seen among Hispanic students and students of two or more races.
Increasing enrollment is due to deliberate efforts to shift resources to enhance recruitment, Fraire said, including initiatives that bring students from traditionally underserved populations to campus while they’re still in high school.