By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Though the first day enrollment count at UW-W reflected an approximate 7% decline from the tenth day in 2019, this year’s tenth day report showed an improvement to a 4% decline. Jeff Angileri, UW-W Director of Public Information, told the Banner that the 10th day total enrollment for both UW-W campuses was 11,842. Final enrollment will be reported later. The statistics for the past twelve years are shown below.

Interim Chancellor Greg Cook, speaking at a virtual town hall on October 1, indicated that enrollment was down approximately 500 students on the Whitewater campus, and 90 at Rock County. Per the information provided to the Banner, the total loss was 526 students. Dr. Cook stated that, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, the enrollment was “very good news.” All things considered, Cook said, enrollment going down only 4% “shows the confidence that the students, the parents and the people in the region have in the university and also in the city—in Janesville and here in Whitewater.”

The news indicates that this is the third consecutive year for an enrollment decline on the Whitewater campus, following at least seven years of generally increasing numbers.

Fall enrollment:
2009 – 11139
2010 – 11557
2011 – 11643
2012 – 12031
2013 – 12015
2014 – 12159
2015 – 12351
2016 – 12628
2017 – 12430
2018 – 12084 (Does not include Janesville campus)
2019 – 12368 (Includes Janesville campus; 10th day)
2020 – 11842 (Includes Janesville campus; 10th day)