Enrollment Management

Data supports answers to strategic questions

Enrollment management at Portland State University provides information on the composition of the student body through a broad campus network, including deans, department heads, staff in academic affairs, admissions and records, student affairs, institutional research, budgets and finance, facilities, and a number of other faculty, staff, and students. Careful planning and evaluation of enrollment contributes to the university's mission by addressing the kinds of questions currently on our agenda.

• What is the appropriate mix of undergraduate and graduate enrollment?
• What is the appropriate mix of programs at both the graduate and undergraduate level?
• How can we support and retain high achieving students from diverse communities?
• What are the marks of distinction for students of the 21st century?
• What are our distinguished programs?
• Can these programs attract new markets of students, and attract, support and retain high achieving and diverse students?

Modeling enrollment helps predict the future

The Oregon University Systems' budgeting model links revenue directly to students. In response, PSU has adopted a strategy of enrollment management to track and project enrollments. Using enrollment projections, the institution and its individual units use systematic planning to accommodate demands for resources, space, and services, leading to administrative efficiency and teaching effectiveness. As part of its long-term planning efforts, PSU has uses enrollment data to inform decisions on instructional staffing, facilities, resources allocation, and the development of alternative forms of education delivery.

The Office of Institutional Research and Planning uses a Markov chain model for short-term planning and a mixture of various models, including the Markov chain, for longer-term predictions and scenario development.

Enrollment data readily available

Enrollment data at the course, program/department, and school or college levels are available for planning and analysis through the University's Data Warehouse. Department chairs and Deans use standard queries to access information on enrollment before, during, and after the registration periods. In addition, daily enrollment counts are provided online to assist with enrollment management activities at the University and unit levels. Assistance is available through the Office of Information Technologies and the Office of Institutional Research and Planning.