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By Craig Leroux, Senior Communications Officer

The university’s Senate recently approved enrolment targets for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 academic years. This followed Senate’s endorsement in March of a long-term strategic enrolment management framework, which identifies the critical internal and external factors that need to be considered when planning enrolment.

The enrolment plan, which was prepared by the Strategic Enrolment Management Group (SEMG) and recommended for Senate’s approval by the Senate Committee for Academic Development, aims for a full-time enrolment of 21,441 undergraduate and graduate students in fall 2014, a 3.2 per cent increase over the fall 2013 enrolment of 20,764. The target for fall 2015 is 22,199 students.

“Queen’s is planning a modest increase in overall enrolment over the coming two years as we work to further enhance the student learning experience and ensure our financial sustainability,” says Daniel Woolf, Principal and Vice-Chancellor. “Over the past 10 years, Queen’s has grown at a slower rate than other Ontario universities. This additional enrolment will enable investments in faculty renewal and student services, resulting in enriched academic programs and supports for all our students.”

Over the past 10 years, Queen’s has grown at a slower rate than other Ontario universities. This additional enrolment will enable investments in faculty renewal and student services, resulting in enriched academic programs and supports for all our students.

- Principal Daniel Woolf

SEMG, which includes deans, university staff and student representatives, submitted the enrolment targets together with documentation prepared by all the deans that demonstrated the alignment of the faculties’ enrolment plans with the .

There was a lengthy and collegial discussion at the April 29 Senate meeting about the targets. Several student senators sought assurances that services would be resourced adequately to meet the needs of a growing student population. Faculty deans noted that the proposed enrolment targets are essential to strengthening the student learning experience, including faculty renewal and student services.

Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Alan Harrison, who chairs the SEMG, says that “the faculties are proposing enrolment growth in programs that have a capacity for growth and a strong applicant pool. The university librarian, the Division of Student Affairs and the School of Graduate Studies were also involved in the planning to ensure that our student services are able to meet the needs of additional students.”

The enrolment target approved by Senate include predicted growth in the number of students outside Kingston taking Queen’s programs through online delivery, such as professional masters programs.