The University of West Alabama Board of Trustees discussed a slight decline in this fall’s on-campus enrollment numbers during Monday’s board meeting.

“This number is down 24 students from Fall 2011, with the reduction in graduate rather than undergraduate students,” University Provost David Taylor said about the 2,266 students enrolled on campus.

The number of transfer students are down by 12 from the 251 transfer students enrolled last fall. In addition, the number of online students dropped by 175.

Taylor said the decline in transfer students can be attributed to low enrollment in most community colleges in Alabama and Mississippi, which impacts transfer numbers.

As for online student enrollment decline, he said it can be largely attributable to culling from the program graduate students who were not making satisfactory progress toward a degree as defined by UWA academic standards and by Federal Financial Aid rules.

Trustee member, Alex Saad sparked discussion in the meeting in regards to how the enrollment decline may affect University revenue funds.

Saad discussed a bond the University is paying and wanted to ensure the trustees continue to keep an eye on enrollment in the future.

“We have to look at the numbers and stay on top of them,” he said.

For the Fall II term, which begins in about 6 weeks, Taylor said the applications are trending for online student enrollment to increase.

In addition to enrollment numbers being a topic of discussion, UWA president Richard Holland reported the school will receive a grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs totaling a little over $107,000 to put at least 48 Certified Nursing Assistants in regional hospitals.

“The program stemmed from a pilot program that started two years ago, but has expanded since,” he said.

Currently, the program doesn’t have a projected start date.

In addition to the CNA initiative, UWA is working with the city of Livingston to begin a recycling program. The Alabama Power Foundation donated a facility, that will be used as the drop-off location, which has a projected Fall opening.

“This program will re-energize our (recycling) efforts on campus and in the city,” he said. “It will also be a resource for our environmental science students.”

The next UWA Board of Trustees meeting will take place in December.