Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
Print
E-Mail
tool name
closeTuesday, Jun. 23, 2009
WSU Tri-Cities projects 10% growth this fall
By the Herald staff
Enrollment at Washington State University Tri-Cities could grow as much as 10 percent this fall, putting student head count at around 1,500, according to a school official.
Population growth -- including people moving to the area as a result of federal stimulus money coming into Hanford -- along with larger graduating high school classes and increased outreach efforts to low-income and first-generation college students are causing the bump, said Dick Pratt, vice chancellor for academic affairs.
"The Tri-Cities is growing," he said. "Adding several thousands more jobs will undoubtedly grow the population of the Tri-Cities and (WSU Tri-Cities) will get a chunk of that."
Enrolling more students is a challenge in the face of state budget cuts, but Pratt said WSU Tri-Cities has tried to avoid cuts in academic operations by reducing funding for support services, maintenance and other areas.
The campus also is applying for stimulus money with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for projects related to the new Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory, Pratt said.
@Nyx.CommentBody@