An annual census report released by the university shows that student numbers, in some areas, remain relatively steady, while in other areas, show change.
Otterbein University has exactly 2,984 students on campus. That is 13 fewer students than last year and 33 fewer than in 2007, when Otterbein had 3,017 students.
This number is composed of undergraduate students, graduate students and nontraditional undergraduate students.
This data was compiled two weeks ago when the Otterbein census report was published.
Both Barbara Wharton, assistant vice president of institutional effectiveness and planning, and Jefferson Blackburn-Smith, vice president of enrollment management, said they use this report to examine trends and build strategies to bring in new students.
With approximately 2,300 undergraduate students, Otterbein has remained relatively steady in its amount of undergraduate students, at about 2,300, plus or minus 2 percentage points.
Almost every other number has changed in some way, although not by much.
Otterbein has gained 25 graduate students and lost 38 undergraduate students. Both transfer students and the Otterbein Collegiate Institute for high school students have gained 28 new students.
One noticeable change is that the freshman class is about 80 students smaller than it was last year, as reported in the Tan & Cardinal earlier this semester.
Blackburn-Smith said that lower high school graduation levels have caused the decline. He also said there was a change in state graduation rates and that 2008-2009 was a peak year of high school graduates. Wharton said that this was expected.
Despite these shifts, the science and math programs grow every year, and athletics draw in a number of students.
“We have lots of reasons to be happy … we are doing very well,” Wharton said. “With the value of attention at Otterbein and level of opportunities, students get firsthand experiences with faculty. … Undergraduates get great opportunities.”
