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NDUS reports enrollment uptick but lawmakers press for clearer online and residency definitions
Summary
NDUS officials reported a modest rebound in enrollment (3.8% headcount, 3.9% FTE) and said 61% of students take at least one online course. Legislators repeatedly pressed staff to define 'online only,' residency and which address fields should determine in-state status; NDUS requested legislative direction to create consistent flags.
Jennifer Weber, director of institutional research and analytics for the North Dakota University System, presented official census figures and said the system saw increases across headcount (3.8%), FTE (3.9%) and scheduled credit hours (4%). She explained technical definitions: headcount counts individuals, undergraduate FTE is total undergraduate credit hours divided by 15, graduate FTE is divided by 12, and professional students are counted as one FTE regardless of credits.
Weber emphasized the complexity of tracking online students and residency. ‘‘Right now 61% of our students are taking at least one online course,’’ she told the committee. She said 25% of headcount are exclusively online, and 32% of credits are produced online. Lawmakers repeatedly asked for a breakdown by in-state vs. out-of-state online students, how many exclusively online students reside in North Dakota, and how many students are physically on campus.
Weber said the system and campuses have the underlying data but lack consistent, operational definitions and flagging in the database. She asked the legislature for clear definitions so the system can create reliable flags; lawmakers suggested linking reporting requirements to funding consequences if necessary.
Committee next steps: legislators requested data showing full-time enrollment by campus, dual-credit breakdowns by campus, and a clearer accounting of online-only students by residency. NDUS staff agreed to provide the requested disaggregations once the committee clarifies definitions.
