The College of the Marshall Islands’ summer session enrollment was the second highest in CMI history, the college reported this week.
This enrollment of 1,218 students set a summer enrollment record for CMI and came close to the highest-ever enrollment in CMI history, with the Fall of 2021 recording 1,267 students.
This continues the trend of increasing enrollment the college has been experiencing for the past couple of years, CMI said in a release. There is an increase in the proportion of returning and readmitted students, but the majority of the students are continuing from the Spring semester. According to a survey of students, the number one reason students enrolled in the summer program was to graduate earlier.
In comparison to Summer 2021, there was a 56 percent increase in enrollment, with female students slightly outnumbering males, and more females taking full-time courses.
Although the increase in enrollment is evident, there is, however, a huge drop in students who are in good academic standing. Female students represent 52 percent compared to 44 percent for the males. Students who are on academic probation for two semesters may be subject to academic suspension, so it is very important for families to support their students who may be struggling, CMI said.
First-time students represent a nine percent increase compared to the Summer of 2021, with 97 percent of students taking classes on a full time basis, in which female students continue to outnumber males by two-thirds. While there seems to be a three percent increase in overall enrollment in the bachelor of arts degree in Elementary Education program, there is also an equivalent decrease in the once popular associate of arts degree in Business among first-time students.
There is a small increase in students enrolling at CMI from RMI private schools.
In regards to placement, drops in both credit level English and math were noticed, with only eight percent and 25 percent, respectively, placing in credit levels. Also worth noting is that most credit level English students are from non-RMI and RMI private high schools, while most credit level math students are from the RMI public high schools. CMI and PSS have established a math bridge course for 12th-grade students, which explains why more students test into credit level math than English; they are planning a similar approach in English for future years, CMI said.