Public colleges and universities in New Hampshire should reduce financial barriers, expand online degree offerings and engage with businesses to identify workforce needs throughout the state.

These are just some of the recommendations from a task force Gov. Chris Sununu created last year in response to concerns about declining enrollment in higher education in New Hampshire and across the country. The 13-person team released its final report with short- and long-term initiatives for the state’s two public systems of higher education, the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) and the University System of New Hampshire (USNH), on March 27.

These suggestions aim to increase enrollment, streamline administrative functions and boost workforce development. 

Offering more than 200 associate degree and certificate programs, the CCSNH operates seven community colleges, including the Claremont-based River Valley, whose Keene facilities are located on Keene State College's campus. USNH offers four-year bachelor's degrees and master's programs at Keene State, the University of New Hampshire in Durham and Plymouth State University. The University of New Hampshire and Plymouth State also offer doctoral programs. 

The task force recommended further development of graduate program offerings at Keene State and Plymouth State as a way to address workforce needs in the state, including in education and manufacturing.

The report also suggested further study on combining the community college and university systems under one governing board and one chancellor.

"These are complex organizations and we need to be thoughtful, but expedient, because there is a crisis that we’re in," said George Hansel, a member of the University System Board of Trustees who served on the task force. 

Undergraduate enrollment in the U.S. decreased from 18.1 million to 15.4 million students, or 15 percent, between 2010 and 2021, according to a 2023 report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Per the task force's report, enrollment at USNH schools decreased from 31,307 to 27,056 students, or 13.5 percent, between the 2019-20 and 2023-24 academic years. In that same time frame, enrollment at CCSNH schools decreased from 25,808 to 22,128 students, or 14.2 percent.

"We recognize our responsibilities, and in partnership with the University System, legislators, and other stakeholders, our goal is to ensure that we continue to improve how we serve our students and the people of New Hampshire," said Mark Rubinstein, chancellor of the community college system.

In response to an email The Sentinel sent about the task force's recommendations, Keene State spokesperson Paul Miller said the college routinely explores the development of undergraduate and graduate academic programs.

"From program identification from the perspective of looking at the regional landscape to spot educational needs and opportunities at the graduate level, to program development, to program launch can easily be a two-year process," he said via email.

Keene State has launched four new master’s programs and three master’s-level certificate programs in the past two years, according to Miller. They include the graduate certificate in atrocity prevention and the master of arts in genocide prevention and human security, which are both offered online and in person. 

The task force also recommended expanding the use of online and hybrid programs across both the university and community college systems. This could "support access to learning opportunities for working adults," and possibly appeal to recent high school graduates, the report states.

"You need to meet students where they are at," said Hansel, who is also Keene's former mayor. "As a rural state — one with a not super densely packed population — it's very important we look to leverage technology to the greatest extent possible."

The report also suggested a long-term initiative to expand student support programs meant for first-generation college students. As of 2020, 49 percent of undergraduate students at Keene State disclosed they were the first generation in their families to pursue a college education.

According to a news release from Sununu's office, the report's findings will be reviewed with members of the task force, and the governor will work with legislative leaders to implement its recommendations.

"This is not a one and done, this is a long-term process," Hansel said. "This isn’t an implementation plan, this is a high-level plan to start us moving in the right direction and set up the work for the future and make some substantial changes."