Bahamian rhapsody: Central State has largest class since 2011

A group of students from the Bahamas helped boost enrollment.

The boost of new students illustrates a continuing rebound for Central State, which suffered from financial troubles and enrollment declines in recent years. Central State was also named the historically black college of the year in July, and the school is working to have its Wilberforce campus annexed into Xenia.

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“With the leadership, the president, the staff, faculty and students, we’re coming together to make our campus better,” said Stephanie Krah, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management.

The university’s original new student target was 800 this year. CSU’s enrollment had fallen by more than 15 percent from 2,068 students in 2013 to 1,751 in 2015, according to the state.

The enrollment dip was one of the reasons the school landed on state fiscal watch in 2015. In April, CSU was removed from fiscal watch.

Central State attributes its enrollment growth to a focus on increasing cultural diversity through international recruitment.

This fall, students from the Bahamas will “dominate” the international community on campus, according to the university.

Two years ago, Central State entered into an agreement with the Bahamas Ministry of Education to provide scholarships for Bahamian students, according to the university.

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Due to the success of those initial students and CSU’s affordability, the Bahamian government tripled the number of sponsored students.

“Over the past two years we have made a concerted effort to ensure that our partnership with The Bahamas Ministry of Education is one that yields successful outcomes,’’ Krah said. “CSU is an institution that lives its mission of fostering academic excellence within a nurturing environment.”

BY THE NUMBERS

Central State University will welcome its largest group of new students this fall since 2011. The increase in students marks a continued turnaround for the school, which has suffered from enrollment and financial issues.

800: Target Central State was trying to reach for new students this fall.

840: Number of new students the university is welcoming this fall.

1,804: Central State University's total enrollment as of 2016.

2,068: CSU's total enrollment in 2013.