“While the official census numbers won’t be confirmed until Oct. 15, our Fall 2025 enrollment currently reflects a third consecutive year of increases,” Smith said in his report to the Marshall University Board of Governors. “As of today, total student enrollment is on pace to increase nearly 8% year-over-year — a 20% increase over the past three years — successfully reversing a more than decade plus decline.”
Smith noted that full-time, first-time freshmen enrollment has grown 5.4% year-over-year and is up 24% over the past three years.
“As we navigate the national demographic cliff with shrinking high school classes, our decision to implement a strategic enrollment management plan several years ago is paying off,” Smith said. “For example, expanding our Metro tuition rates and catchment area to include a 150-mile radius into Ohio and Kentucky has produced Metro enrollment increases of 19% this year and more than 60% over the past three years.”
He added that Marshall’s embrace of flexible learning models has also paid dividends with distance learner enrollment up as well.
Smith praised the campus community for its shared commitment to student recruitment and success.
“There’s no off-season — we’re already working on next fall’s enrollment with 75 high school and college fair events on the calendar and new approaches to inspire students to join the Herd,” he said. “I want to thank our campus community for their efforts to remain focused on growing enrollment and student success. This is the ‘power of we’ in action.”
Smith also noted that two key academic positions, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost, as well as dean of the College of Liberal Arts, will be announced in the coming days.
During the same meeting, the Board of Governors approved a resolution to reallocate funding under the state’s deferred maintenance grant program. The state requires board approval for transfers between projects. The resolution includes financial reallocations from the Morrow Library project and the former Tri State MRI building HVAC replacement to a stormwater improvements project, among other similar initiatives. These adjustments will ensure the university continues to address its most urgent infrastructure needs efficiently.
The Board also launched a new Faculty Recognition Program to celebrate exceptional academic and research achievement. The inaugural honorees are Dr. Ross Salary, associate professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, and Dr. Kacy Lovelace, associate professor and Research and Student Success Librarian. Both were recognized for their outstanding contributions to scholarship and student engagement.
Board members also heard the inaugural report from Athletics Director Gerald Harrison, who shared updates on the university’s athletic programs and his vision for continued growth and excellence across all sports. Harrison noted that a comprehensive report detailing the impact of the Zach Bryan concert, held in August at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, will be presented at December’s board meeting.