UC Announces Changes to Meet Evolving Student and Workforce Needs

The University of Charleston (UC), a private, independent, comprehensive university, recently announced its highest enrollment in over 50 years. 3,051 students are registered for classes this Fall, in addition to hundreds who are enrolled in non-degree certificate programs.

Achieving enrollment growth while many other colleges and universities are experiencing declines is due to UC’s focus on creating and growing in-demand programs that prepare students for personal and professional success. “UC has a rich history of innovation,” according to its President, Marty Roth. “We strive to develop and deliver programs for in-demand fields where jobs are most prevalent. Our primary core value is student focus. We want to ensure that students benefit from our faculty’s expertise in ways that further their career aspirations.”

To meet the persistent need for healthcare professionals in the state and region, for example, over the past six years, UC has expanded its nursing degree offerings and the locations and modalities where they are offered. UC now has 449 students enrolled in associate, bachelor, and master’s degree nursing programs in Charleston, Beckley, and online. Many other career-relevant business, health, leadership, and technology programs have been launched during this time in which students benefit from the relationships built with their faculty and peers.

While identifying new growth opportunities is important, so is recognizing when market conditions make existing programs less attractive. Due to declining student interest and an increase in the number of schools across the country, this is the case with pharmacy education. As a result, UC will no longer be admitting new students into its School of Pharmacy.

“This is a very difficult and emotional decision for UC” according to Roth. “Our dedicated faculty and staff have been preparing pharmacists for successful careers for close to 20 years. While pharmacists remain critical for effective healthcare, market conditions have led to a decline in student interest. Pharmacy school enrollments have fallen nationally since 2016. Despite our best recruiting efforts, new pharmacy student enrollment has dropped to 20% of previous years. Consequently, UC must focus its resources on programs with more favorable market conditions and impact on the University’s success. This is a business decision for UC that in no way diminishes the high quality of the pharmacy education our current UC students are receiving or from which our successful UC alumni have benefited. We remain proud of our pharmacy program and its contributions to our healthcare provider system in West Virginia and around the country.”

UC’s Doctor of Pharmacy degree is fully accredited and led by outstanding faculty and staff who are committed to their students’ success. The university will be working with current students to ensure they can continue pursuing their pharmacy degrees.

Despite the transition away from pharmacy education, UC plans to continue its enrollment growth, in large part through the expansion and addition of other in-demand healthcare programs. Plans are in place to expand existing Master of Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner and Master of Physician Assistant programs, which have projected job growth rates of 46% and 28%, respectively, through 2033. New graduate degrees will be offered in occupational and physical therapy both of which have projected double-digit job growth rates.

“This is an exciting time for UC,” stated Roth. “We have just celebrated our largest enrollment in more than 50 years, building on the momentum of existing programs and ones recently launched. We will continue to address the evolving needs of students and employers. Being responsive and nimble enables us to remain at the forefront of innovative education at a challenging time in our industry.”

The university recently received several national recognitions for its achievements, including being named a “Best School” by the Princeton Review and a “Best School for Men in Nursing” by the American Association for Men in Nursing. Additionally, four online programs received “Best” rankings by Intelligent.com, and the UC Downtown Innovation Hub earned third place as the Best Startup Ecosystem Support Organization in the Global Innovation Management Institute 2024 Innovation Awards.

The University remains focused on ensuring all students have the resources and opportunities to succeed while continuing to evolve as a leader in innovative, market-driven education that meets the demands of today’s workforce. Questions about enrollment and the School of Pharmacy can be directed to the President’s Office.