Strategies to Stem Declining Engineering Enrollments

Abstract

Engineering enrollments have been on the decline since 1982. This decline is particularly true for native-born American students, and the gains women have made in engineering over the past few years are also being eroded. These declines come at a time when engineering salaries continue to gain and with a favorable job market. The enrollment decline will lead to a shortage of engineers in the United States at all degree levels. Furthermore, these declining enrollments could weaken the bargaining power of engineering schools or colleges at their home institutions with respect to both personnel and financial allocations. A set of recommendations and suggested activities are presented that could prove effective as strategies to stem these declining engineering enrollments. Examples are included of how some of these measures have been implemented at the writer’s school, Youngstown State University, and the successes achieved.