After years of enrollment decline on the Westville campus, the university has launched several initiatives to increase the number of students attending classes there.

 Many focus on reaching prospective students early.

“Our early education liaison has partnered with the Michigan City school district to do classroom presentations to all sixth graders, bring every seventh grader to the Westville campus, and offer a career wax museum in eighth grade to help students be ready for a graduation pathway in high school,” said Kris Falzone, associate vice chancellor, Marketing and Communications.

The university is promoting the Westville campus with billboards, local radio station ads, and a website to drive awareness of events and activities on the campus.

The mission is to overcome enrollment declines that reflect demographic changes that mean there are fewer college-age students than in the past.

The number of core students at Westville has dropped by more than 50% since the 2018-19 school year, when 1,906 students were enrolled there. The number of core students at Westville this year is 899, according to the university Fact Book. 

In response to the shrinking student enrollment, PNW has reduced some academic programs in Westville.

The trend led to concern among local officials.  Last month, Chancellor Thomas Keon and Provost Kenneth Holford reassured LaPorte County Commissioners of PNW’s commitment to the campus.

As part of the university’s commitment, PNW’s Westville Student Life coordinator has put together events aimed at attracting students and the community to the campus.

“Approximately 1,000 people from campus and the community attended a fireworks show … on Sept. 30,” said Falzone. “[On Oct. 27] about 850 people participated in the ‘Haunted Trails’ event at Westville. There was also a ‘trunk or treat’ that had over 150 attendees.” 

PNW also launched a “Start your Journey” open house at the campus. 

“This event gives prospective students and their families a great opportunity to tour the campus, meet with faculty and students, walk through the admissions process, learn more about how to earn a bachelor’s degree at PNW, and explore options for paying for college,” said Falzone.

“There’s going to be a very steep decline in young people over the next 18 years,” Chancellor Tom Keon reported to Northwest Indiana Times. He attributes this to the decline in the birth rate.