According to a November report by Capitol News Illinois and figures released by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, enrollment at public universities in Illinois grew 2.3 percent from the previous year to a ten-year high of over 189,000 students. Although the student body itself has changed through the years, delivering the best possible education remains the focus, informs Knox College Provost and Dean of the Faculty Melissa Glenn:
“Like every other small, liberal arts residential college, we are really trying to make sure that we are delivering the best possible education that we guarantee for our students. We have been spending a lot of time thinking about who students are, making sure we understand what they need. I think that the student body has changed a lot in the last few years, and I think it is important as educators in higher ed to understand how they have changed,” states Glenn.
“We want to really make sure that what students are getting from the kind of education that Knox can provide is more than just technical skills. A liberal arts education is about graduating students who are curious, life-long learners who are able to lead, to interact with others, and to collaborate,” Glenn adds.
In the Capitol News Illinois report, the increased enrollment numbers were driven by growth of incoming freshmen classes, which showed a 6.8 percent increase from the previous year.
