JAMM fall semester enrollment holds steady

The University of Idaho released fall enrollment figures this week, based on the 10^th day of the semester (Sept. 1). Overall enrollment on the Moscow campus fell by 5.54 percent, from 11,310 to 10,682, explained in part by a better economy and smaller high school graduating classes in Idaho last year.

Our college, Letters, Arts and Social Sciences showed an increase of 11 students (.26 percent), from 4,162 to 4,173. CLASS and Law were the only UI colleges to report gains.

The School of Journalism and Mass Media’s enrollment was exactly the same as fall 2005, 448 majors. This number breaks down as follows:

Advertising, 152 (up from 117) -- 44 of them freshmen.
Journalism, 106 (down from 115)
Public Relations, 95 (down from 101)
Radio-TV-Digital Media Production, 90 (down from 97)
This list doesn’t include five students who each declared two of our majors, which isn’t permitted under our degree requirements.

Some other highlights of the fall 2006 data: We have 103 freshmen, 10 more than a year ago. See the accompanying photo of me with some members of the class of 2010). About 56 percent of our majors (251 students) are female. And 40 students (8.9 percent) self-identify as an ethic minority, up from 34. An additional four students list themselves as “other” (often students of mixed backgrounds) and 25 other students left blank their ethnic/racial identification.

Our stable enrollment is consistent with a slight increase nationwide in journalism and mass communication enrollments nationwide. The University of Georgia conducts an annual enrollment survey which offers insights into enrollment trends. I’ll offer highlights of its 2006 report in a future posting.