Editor's Note: this editor/reporter was unable to attend last week's Western New Mexico University Regents' meeting. Al Milligan, a Silver City resident, made these observations and comments. He reports that most of the data can be found on the WNMU webiste. This editor encourages the reader also to do his or her own research.

By Alfred Milligan

Census date is when students that haven't made arrangements to pay tuition and fees are purged from the rolls.

Enrollment: Head Count (census date)  down 6.52% (report says 6.36% but they miscalculated.) from 3,681 in Fall 2013 to 3,441 now.

FTE (census date) down 2.77% from2,382 in Fall 2013 to 2,317

Head count (census date) fell from 3,771 in Fall 2012, to 3,441 now, down 8.8%.

Housing Occupancy 337 occupants for 409 total beds, 72.8% (report says 75% but they miscalculated.)

There is one more student in the dorms now than in Fall 2012. Mustang Village A &B are low with 62% occupancy. That's 3 occupants for each five-bed unit. Families have been put off campus and their apartments are now 21 and over dorms with alcohol allowed.

Western has implemented a nonrefundable $200 application deposit. If you enroll you get a $100 credit for Fall tuition and a $100 credit for Spring tuition. If you don't attend you forfeit the $200, if you drop out after the Fall semester you forfeit $100. With the implementation of this fee applications fell from 3,586 in Fall 2013 to 2,187 now, or about 40%. Other universities in New Mexico charge a max of $20 nonrefundable fee.