Cheyney U. In Recovery Mode After Losing Half Of Student Body
By Justin Udo
CHEYNEY, Pa. (CBS) - Student enrollment at Cheyney University has declined by 50-percent over the last five years, a trend educators are looking to reverse.
Ken Marshall with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education says within the last year alone, enrollment at the Chester County college has fallen by 30-percent:
"The current fall enrollment at Cheyney is 711 full and part time students."
Gwen Owens with the university says to increase enrollment, they are taking aggressive steps -- like increasing their academic portfolio and adding high demand programs:
"We have enhanced recruitment efforts by exploring many markets, including increasing online learning courses, being more accessible to community college transfer students, adult learners, veterans, international students, and those wishing to return to complete their degrees."
Cheyney is the oldest historically black institution of higher learning in the United States. It was founded in 1837.