Incoming freshman enrollment numbers are down about 180 from last year, but the numbers change every day, said Blair Lord, the provost and vice president for academic affairs, at the Faculty Senate meeting Wednesday.

Lord said getting enrollment up this past year has been tough.

He said he is hopeful with Chris Dearth, the new admissions director, who is starting on August 1.

Dearth was previously the admissions director at State University of New York at Fredonia, Ny., since 2007.

Lord said the University of Illinois is taking measures to ensure they keep up their enrollment. “I think you’re all aware that University of Illinois went and completely opened up their waitlist and invited all the people on their waitlist admission. They went back to people they had rejected and offered them admissions,” Lord said. “Come hell or high water, they were going to get their class.”

Universities in Illinois such as Western Illinois University and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale-and-Edwardsville are giving free tuition to many students, Lord said.

“We have a pretty strong tide against us in that arena,” Lord said.

The senate members also discussed revisions and reviewed their constitution and bylaws. The next senate meeting is scheduled for Aug. 26, the first Tuesday of the new semester.

Amanda Wilkinson can reached be reached 581-2812 or akwilkinson@eiu.edu.