Chancellor Victor Boschini spoke to TCU News Now about his concerns and optimism for the university’s enrollment numbers.

Despite the challenges related to the pandemic, TCU saw a total enrollment increase for fall 2020. Overall, the number of students for fall 2020 stands at 11,379, an addition of 355 students from 2019.

Boschini said he believes the main reason for the increase goes with TCU’s mission, which “values on students and the connections among the campus community.”

“I think people were so eager for those connections and wanted to come back to campus, which made the numbers go up,” said Boschini.

When it comes to spring 2021, Boschini said his fear is that students will not want to return back to campus until the pandemic has passed.

“I hope students will come back, but with everything going on, I just don’t know,” said Boschini.

Read more: TCU announces modified spring break, condensed semester to reduce travel

The chancellor added that TCU’s long-standing financial aid initiative is another reason enrollment numbers increased for the fall.

TCU added $65 million of financial aid for students this year, and Boschini hopes it will “carry us through the spring semester.”

Among the 355 additional students this year, 265 were undergraduate, and 147 were graduate students.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead to fall 2021, the chancellor said he hopes campus life will be back to normal.

When asked what steps TCU would implement to maintain the enrollment increase, Boschini said DEI initiatives “play a role in increasing numbers across all demographics.”

“We’re going to have to intensify those initiatives because the enrollment that is out there does not reflect the enrollment we have,” said Boschini.

TCU holds a population of 29% non-white students, and Boschini said TCU plans to “develop better recruitment strategies for those students to get a great education because they’re out there.”

For more information on enrollment increases, click here.