BECKLEY, W.Va. — Fall semester classes at the University of Charleston Beckley and Martinsburg get underway the next two Mondays and President Ed Welch says enrollment figures remain up in the air.
“Enrollment in online courses and enrollment in Beckley and Martinsburg happen late in the game,” Welch said. “So the numbers of people interested literally change from day to day.”
Last semester, the first with UC in control, 500 students were enrolled at the Beckley campus, and 300 of those graduated. Welch said he hopes the school will have similar enrollment this semester.
“If we could get back to the 400 or 500 for the first year, that would be a good thing,” he said.
UC is adding classes and athletic opportunities to draw more on-campus students. For example, the West Virginia National Guard will be offering leadership courses, which Welch said that’s gotten a lot of interest.
UC took over the former Mountain State University in January after MSU lost its accreditation. Welch said UC is still implementing changes in search of a long-term strategy.
“It’s just an exciting, busy, very different time. It’s a different culture than the one they were accustomed to,
Welch said. “It’s a different audience. It’s exciting to be working with them and providing the services they need.”