DENVER—Greeley’s reputation as a haven for illegal immigrants who break the law is hurting the University of Northern Colorado’s efforts to recruit students, university President Kay Norton said.
A forum last month that focused on crimes by illegal immigrants “was most unhelpful,” Norton told The Denver Post in a story in Thursday’s editions.
The forum was held by Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck. He disputed the assertion that it hurt UNC.
“Enrollment was down in August, and we held our meeting in September. I doubt our meeting had anything to do with it,” he told The Associated Press Thursday.
“The fact that we are addressing gang problems in Greeley … or that we are addressing illegal immigration issues is a positive in my mind,” Buck said. “It means we’re going to get better.”
A sensationalized image of gangs of illegal immigrants running free in Greeley is frightening to parents, Norton said.
UNC’s overall enrollment declined 5 percent this fall while the University of Colorado and Colorado State University both had increases, she said. UNC’s freshman enrollment declined 10.5 percent.
Norton said the declines translate into a $1.6 million loss in tuition revenue.
She said the university needs to strengthen ties to local high schools and plans a more active advertising and marketing campaign to help recruit students.
The university had cut back on marketing in the past, Norton said.
“I think in past years we kind of took our eyes off the ball” on promoting the university, she said.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
