How I Increased Enrollment by 53% Overnight A Case Study Presented by: Ken Baldauf Florida State University
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How I Increased Enrollment by 53% Overnight
A Case Study
Presented by:Ken BaldaufFlorida State University
Not to be confused with how I lost 5 pounds in 24 hours.
Mission Impossible?
The Problem Decreasing numbers of FSU CS majors
and in class enrollment CS Undergrad Majors down from 700 to
300 over six years Enrollment in non-major programming
classes down 70 percent over six years Graduate and Computer Lit enrollment
fairly stable
Number of Students
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
ugrad majorsnon-major programmingcomp litgrad student
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
ugrad majorsnon-major programmingcomp litgrad student
Number of CS Credit Hours
Common Solutions Debunk popular misconceptions
There ARE jobs for CS/tech majors They pay well You don’t have to be a geek
Adjust curriculum to be more attractive Add game programming Decrease the rigor of the degree Offer alternative degrees/tracks
www.cs.fsu.edu/prospective/undergrad/whymajor.php
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
ugrad majorsnon-major programmingcomp litgrad student
Common Solutions The focus of most common solutions is
on recruiting undergrad majors
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
ugrad majorsnon-major programmingcomp litgrad student
My Solution
Look to the non-majors
Why Non-majors?
There are a bunch of ‘em.
Why Non-majors?
Specialized technology skills are gradually migrating to non-majors; they are becoming non-specialized
TECHMAJORS
NON-TECHMAJORS
Specialized Tech Skills
Attracting Non-tech Majors
What Interests Non-techies? Computer Lit MicroApps for Business Computer Lit II Computer Lit for Mac Digital Media and Communications
Music, Photography, Cell Phones PC Security and Maintenance Web Design, Development, Scripting
Demo: http://service.cs.fsu.edu
ONLINE
Course Sequences
Creating courses that feed into each other is a good strategy.
COMPSCI
WEBDEV
COMPLIT II
COMPLIT
Providing Infrastructure
Requirements
Qualified Teachers 35 Teaching Assistants, 4 of which are
exceptional lead instructors Software
Build courses around software in labs Students use trial versions
Classroom Space Mac classroom
Getting the Word Out
Marketing Strategy
Email to existing comp lit students Email to next semester’s students after
registration Email to Academic Advisors and Deans Word of mouth Newspaper ads
www.kenbaldauf.com/ads.htm
Results
Results
Growth from 1,817 to 2,772 students Comp Lit Online 399 → 944 Comp Lit Onground Maxed Comp Lit Mac 24 → 124 Comp Lit II 102 → 191 Web Dev 24 → 50 Digital Media 40 PC Security 31
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
2,000
2,200
2,400
2,600
2,800
3,000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
My Computer Lit Group is now referred to as the Service Group (non-programming).
Conclusions
There is interest in technology classes - more so than in technology majors.
Increased enrollment in non-major classes fuels the degree program: funds more grad student TAs provides opportunity for recruiting into
degree programs
An Optimistic Future
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
10,000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
ugrad majorsnon-major programmingcomp litgrad student
Future Plans
Ads for programming classes Continued ads for non-programming
classes More experimental classes
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