Daily Chronicle

Enrollment down 4.7%, but retention rate steadying and even slightly better. Hopefully NIU can start righting this ship. SIU, WIU and EIU are all in much worse shape.

(02-06-2018 05:48 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  Daily Chronicle

Enrollment down 4.7%, but retention rate steadying and even slightly better. Hopefully NIU can start righting this ship. SIU, WIU and EIU are all in much worse shape.

Unfortunately it still seems like the best thing to 'hope for' is for one of the others to close down. I'm not actually hoping for that, but from a strictly NIU perspective, would seem to help the most.

EIU weathering the storm surprises me.

(02-06-2018 10:51 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  EIU weathering the storm surprises me.

I can't believe that university is still open at this point given the budget constraints at the state. Wait till that representative from that area in the Illinois house gets voted out.

Crazy to think one of our major universities might close first. You'd think a few small colleges would drop before them.

Any closure would help NIU, but the only real fix is the State of Illinois cleaning up its budget and reputation, and keeping it that way for decades to come.

(02-07-2018 10:22 AM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  

(02-06-2018 10:51 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  EIU weathering the storm surprises me.

I can't believe that university is still open at this point given the budget constraints at the state. Wait till that representative from that area in the Illinois house gets voted out.

Now more than ever public U's will depend on private fundraising, not something that Public U's traditionally have been accustomed to but are going to have to get better at as the Private U's have much more experience in it.

(02-07-2018 10:37 AM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote:  Crazy to think one of our major universities might close first. You'd think a few small colleges would drop before them.

Any closure would help NIU, but the only real fix is the State of Illinois cleaning up its budget and reputation, and keeping it that way for decades to come.

Only a few small private universities have closed up to now (St Joe Rensallier, IN) and more would have to shutter IMO before any public U's close up. Chicago State seems to be the first one on the list of public U's that are in financial difficulty.

while these have been challenging times for Public U's, Governors State, Northeastern Illinois University and UI Springfield have all build new student housing in the past 10 years so for the universities that have the whit and grit to survive there is hope

(02-06-2018 05:48 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  Daily Chronicle

Enrollment down 4.7%, but retention rate steadying and even slightly better. Hopefully NIU can start righting this ship. SIU, WIU and EIU are all in much worse shape.

I wish NIU was not so currently positioned as to need to make mention of an SIU, WIU or EIU type school.

I get why we do, but I am really ready to compare ourselves to a different peer group.

(02-07-2018 10:22 AM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  

(02-06-2018 10:51 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  EIU weathering the storm surprises me.

I can't believe that university is still open at this point given the budget constraints at the state. Wait till that representative from that area in the Illinois house gets voted out.

Same. Hope it stays open but that school has no niche being in the middle of nowhere just an hour from UI (and INST). EIU’s location was totally botched.

(02-07-2018 04:51 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(02-06-2018 05:48 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  Daily Chronicle

Enrollment down 4.7%, but retention rate steadying and even slightly better. Hopefully NIU can start righting this ship. SIU, WIU and EIU are all in much worse shape.

I wish NIU was not so currently positioned as to need to make mention of an SIU, WIU or EIU type school.

I get why we do, but I am really ready to compare ourselves to a different peer group.

Our peer group for undergrads is ISU. NIU should hire Illinois State recruitment director. They are running at 100% capacity and have unbelievable retention rate.

(02-07-2018 08:22 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 04:51 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(02-06-2018 05:48 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  Daily Chronicle

Enrollment down 4.7%, but retention rate steadying and even slightly better. Hopefully NIU can start righting this ship. SIU, WIU and EIU are all in much worse shape.

I wish NIU was not so currently positioned as to need to make mention of an SIU, WIU or EIU type school.

I get why we do, but I am really ready to compare ourselves to a different peer group.

Our peer group for undergrads is ISU. NIU should hire Illinois State recruitment director. They are running at 100% capacity and have unbelievable retention rate.

I think they attract better, more serious students. Are their admission standards higher than NIU's?

(02-07-2018 08:29 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 08:22 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 04:51 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(02-06-2018 05:48 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  Daily Chronicle

Enrollment down 4.7%, but retention rate steadying and even slightly better. Hopefully NIU can start righting this ship. SIU, WIU and EIU are all in much worse shape.

I wish NIU was not so currently positioned as to need to make mention of an SIU, WIU or EIU type school.

I get why we do, but I am really ready to compare ourselves to a different peer group.

Our peer group for undergrads is ISU. NIU should hire Illinois State recruitment director. They are running at 100% capacity and have unbelievable retention rate.

I think they attract better, more serious students. Are their admission standards higher than NIU's?

I don't think their admission standards are higher, but they are winning the recruiting battle for the kids both schools would like to have.

(02-07-2018 10:10 PM)niu79 Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 08:29 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 08:22 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 04:51 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(02-06-2018 05:48 PM)Big_Man Wrote:  Daily Chronicle

Enrollment down 4.7%, but retention rate steadying and even slightly better. Hopefully NIU can start righting this ship. SIU, WIU and EIU are all in much worse shape.

I wish NIU was not so currently positioned as to need to make mention of an SIU, WIU or EIU type school.

I get why we do, but I am really ready to compare ourselves to a different peer group.

Our peer group for undergrads is ISU. NIU should hire Illinois State recruitment director. They are running at 100% capacity and have unbelievable retention rate.

I think they attract better, more serious students. Are their admission standards higher than NIU's?

I don't think their admission standards are higher, but they are winning the recruiting battle for the kids both schools would like to have.

They have the reputation of party school with beautiful suburban girls. We have the reputation of shootings and muggings. Its not all true or fair, but thats perception.

(02-07-2018 06:22 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 10:22 AM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  

(02-06-2018 10:51 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  EIU weathering the storm surprises me.

I can't believe that university is still open at this point given the budget constraints at the state. Wait till that representative from that area in the Illinois house gets voted out.

Same. Hope it stays open but that school has no niche being in the middle of nowhere just an hour from UI (and INST). EIU’s location was totally botched.

I agree with you. I live in Kankakee and a long-standing rumor is that the people of Kankakee had the option of the mental hospital in Kankakee becoming EIU and then the hospital being moved down to Charleston. Kankakee supposedly pass on the deal because of the loss of jobs.

Even if the rumor isn't true, the position of Kankakee makes more sense than Charleston.

I'd think if EIU/SIU/WIU would shut down it would have minimal impact on our numbers. Most students I know opt to go out of state because of the instability of Illinois. A student down in whatever town south of Macomb is going to opt to go over the border or to a smaller school than to go to NIU.

(02-08-2018 03:50 AM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 10:10 PM)niu79 Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 08:29 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 08:22 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 04:51 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  I wish NIU was not so currently positioned as to need to make mention of an SIU, WIU or EIU type school.

I get why we do, but I am really ready to compare ourselves to a different peer group.

Our peer group for undergrads is ISU. NIU should hire Illinois State recruitment director. They are running at 100% capacity and have unbelievable retention rate.

I think they attract better, more serious students. Are their admission standards higher than NIU's?

I don't think their admission standards are higher, but they are winning the recruiting battle for the kids both schools would like to have.

They have the reputation of party school with beautiful suburban girls. We have the reputation of shootings and muggings. Its not all true or fair, but thats perception.

The way it works is HS students from the suburbs who can't get into U of I go to ISU or Iowa. HS students from the City who can't get into U of I go to NIU.

(02-08-2018 01:40 PM)dogdangit Wrote:  

(02-08-2018 03:50 AM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 10:10 PM)niu79 Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 08:29 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 08:22 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  Our peer group for undergrads is ISU. NIU should hire Illinois State recruitment director. They are running at 100% capacity and have unbelievable retention rate.

I think they attract better, more serious students. Are their admission standards higher than NIU's?

I don't think their admission standards are higher, but they are winning the recruiting battle for the kids both schools would like to have.

They have the reputation of party school with beautiful suburban girls. We have the reputation of shootings and muggings. Its not all true or fair, but thats perception.

The way it works is HS students from the suburbs who can't get into U of I go to ISU or Iowa. HS students from the City who can't get into U of I go to NIU.

Exactly what my daughter and son's friends did. NIU was not even mention except how unsafe it was and gang problems. Perception is reality in the burbs.

(02-08-2018 05:29 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  

(02-08-2018 01:40 PM)dogdangit Wrote:  

(02-08-2018 03:50 AM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 10:10 PM)niu79 Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 08:29 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  I think they attract better, more serious students. Are their admission standards higher than NIU's?

I don't think their admission standards are higher, but they are winning the recruiting battle for the kids both schools would like to have.

They have the reputation of party school with beautiful suburban girls. We have the reputation of shootings and muggings. Its not all true or fair, but thats perception.

The way it works is HS students from the suburbs who can't get into U of I go to ISU or Iowa. HS students from the City who can't get into U of I go to NIU.

Exactly what my daughter and son's friends did. NIU was not even mention except how unsafe it was and gang problems. Perception is reality in the burbs.

Agreed. I think some of the events at NIU in the last two decades allowed ISU to get an advantage, and that has avalanched to Normal becoming a preferred destination over DeKalb. Not sure how NIU changes that preference.

I have not been impressed with any efforts to date to redefine ourselves and begin to balance the playing field. Although the two campuses have not changed, the development of uptown Normal adjacent to the ISU campus has been a great success, and another example of NIU falling behind in the pecking order.

Kids and their parents are getting wise and buying educational pitches, other opportunities.

-Kids are going out of state to better schools, the "tweeners" between UI and NIU/ISU. Of note, I found it interesting that UI acceptance rate is 66%. Would have thought lower with their requirements.

-Kids, especially males, are learning more trades, seeking city/public sector opportunities. I hear the same stories every day in Mt Greenwood/Beverly. These kids can't cut it in science, tech or even business fields or they get crap pay, no job security. Work public sector, start low, get the 3.5% every yr, 3/4+ pension, another job if needed. They see their family, friends doing the same.

-Kids continue to realize the worthlessness of some educations, fields. Why go to SIU when you can go community college/online and then seek that trade, public sector job. Get sponsor, apprenticeship if it applies continue education as required while you work.

There is so much information out there on the net that gives kids these options that they can research from alternate education options to starting a career at 18, 20 years old. Why spend a 100k when in many cases you are slightly better off, perhaps not, with other options?

(02-07-2018 06:22 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(02-07-2018 10:22 AM)RitzHuskie Wrote:  

(02-06-2018 10:51 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  EIU weathering the storm surprises me.

I can't believe that university is still open at this point given the budget constraints at the state. Wait till that representative from that area in the Illinois house gets voted out.

Same. Hope it stays open but that school has no niche being in the middle of nowhere just an hour from UI (and INST). EIU’s location was totally botched.

EIU has been open since 1895 its not as if that location was chosen recently, what has hurt them and other public U's that are not flagship universities or located in a major population metro region are the skyrocking costs of attendance. Northeastern Illinois U has done a decent job of keeping those costs down by dropping all collegiate sports and only having club teams. Programs that are running athletic deficits that are not being paid for by donors and as a result are costing students more in fees are going to need to think long and hard about retaining the sports they have and which ones they can cut