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TSU trustees hear enrollment report: FAFSA delays, balance holds and a 300‑student shortfall cited
Summary
Tennessee State University officials told trustees June 6 that delayed FAFSA rollouts and student balance holds contributed to about a 300‑student shortfall against next year’s recruitment goals and that first‑year retention hovers near 60%; university leaders described outreach, scholarship tiers and retention‑plan reviews as mitigation steps.
Tennessee State University officials told trustees June 6 that a delayed federal FAFSA rollout, student account balance holds and advisement or SAP (satisfactory academic progress) issues are the main drivers of a shortfall in fall 2024 enrollment projections.
Jason Evans, the university’s chief operating officer, told the Student and Academic Affairs Committee the university is projecting roughly 7,100 students next year but is currently about 300 students behind that goal. Evans said the shortfall is largely visible in housing deposit metrics — about 630 housing deposits so far versus 951 at the same time last year — and that roughly 1,000 students who were enrolled in spring 2024 will not be eligible to register for fall because of balance holds or other holds.
Evans attributed part of the yield loss to repeated delays and technical changes in the FAFSA application, which increased uncertainty for many Pell‑eligible families. He said the university has run an information campaign to help students and parents navigate the new form and is coordinating with financial‑aid staff to post award letters as soon as possible. Trustees pressed for more detail on the amounts owed and average balances; Evans said he would provide total balance and average‑balance figures to trustees.
Trustees and staff discussed retention. Committee members noted first‑time freshman retention at about 60%, and leaders said balance holds, advisement holds (which require students to see an adviser before registering) and federal SAP rules are recurring drivers of non‑return. The university reported that about 64% of first‑time freshmen are Pell‑eligible, making timely aid notices especially important to families deciding whether to enroll. University leaders described steps taken or planned to reduce the retention gap, including a tiered institutional scholarship program extended to sophomores and upper‑class students, increased wraparound services and targeted outreach to admitted students.
On recruitment strategy, Evans said Tennessee remains the university’s primary market but that out‑of‑state recruitment benefits from scholarship discounts and brand recognition. He reported at least five written agreements with community colleges aimed at boosting transfer pathways and said the university is doubling down on in‑state recruitment events and alumni engagement.
Trustees asked for a 10‑year enrollment lookback (to reduce COVID distortion in five‑year views), a breakdown of outstanding balance amounts, and a clearer timeline for FAFSA award letters. University leaders said staff will provide those data points to trustees in follow‑up materials and reiterated that the university is monitoring admitted students and deposits closely over the coming weeks.
