Western students return to Bellingham, President Randhawa announces new plan to boost enrollment

Western Washington University launches the Presidential Strategic Enrollment Growth Initiative to address declining enrollment and financial challenges. University President Sabah Randhawa revealed the plan during his State of the University Address, where he discussed the institution's $23 million budget deficit and the impact of recent layoffs. The initiative will automatically offer admission to eligible local high school seniors and simplify credit transfers for community college students. Western Washington aims to attract 3,200 first-year students and 1,200 transfers by fall 2026. This strategic effort responds to the pressing need for increased enrollment, which is critical for the university's financial health.

Additionally, previous efforts to maintain student numbers have been hampered by budget constraints. Randhawa highlighted the importance of fostering a diverse and engaged academic community through these initiatives. The university's proactive approach seeks to stabilize its future amidst ongoing economic pressures.