Only about half of the new programs at Georgia’s public colleges and universities met their projected enrollment within three years of starting, according to data released this week.
Of the 336 programs approved between June 2004 and January 2012 by the state’s Board of Regents, 171 met or exceeded their three-year enrollment goals by fall 2014. The other 165 programs fell below the projections set by school officials.
For programs not meeting their enrollment goals, they are likely being subsidized by more popular programs, officials said. But numbers alone don’t provide a full picture, as each program has its own unique circumstances that contributed to its enrollment figures, they said.
The enrollment report, presented during the regents’ monthly meeting, is part of an initiative by the board and Chancellor Hank Huckaby to track programs after they are approved and implemented, and to improve efficiency and accountability within the University System of Georgia. Programs not meeting enrollment plans could be modified to attract more students or ultimately ended.
The Post Approval Enrollment Monitoring Report, with a full list of new programs, is included in the regents' February meeting packet.
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