Student Enrollment Up At UI, CALS

Despite the challenges of the pandemic and distance learning, fall enrollment at the University of Idaho increased 5% from 2020 to 2021. In addition, enrollment at the College of Agricultural Life Sciences jumped by nearly 12%. CALS Dean Michael Parrella said that enrollment jump would be incredibly exciting under normal circumstances, but to do so during a pandemic, is even more impressive.

“I think we’re up almost 30% with new freshman from last year, so it bodes well.  I think we’re getting information out about the quality of our educational opportunities here at the University, especially in CALS, so, we’re really pleased with that.  Right now, we’re looking at admitting students and we’re in the recruitment process for the fall of this coming year, and we’re actually ahead of where we were last year at this time.”

Parrella noted those good initial numbers do not guarantee additional students for the fall of 2022, but he pointed out the school is head of last year’s pace. Parrella said when it comes to increasing enrollment at CALS, they have several key areas of focus, including what he calls CALS Ambassadors.

“We have 25 students that I would say are some of the top students in the college, they cut across all of the different disciplines in the college.  And so, that’s an army of students that basically engage with our high schools and interact with students, they are at recruiting events on campus and off campus, and that’s a huge way of really imparting the excitement and excellence about being a student here on the campus, and especially in CALS.”

Other areas of focus include student retention and promoting all the main campus in Moscow has to offer those interested in a career in agriculture.

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