Enrollment Management set to meet fall goals under interim vice provost

A student works at the desks on the third floor of the Charles Library. | IMANI MAKAS / THE TEMPLE NEWS

Temple expects to reach its Fall 2026 enrollment goals under Rob Reddy, the new interim Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, after falling short of its goals last year. 

Reddy joined the division in January after the resignation of his predecessor, Jose Aviles, in December 2025.  

Despite having the largest first-year class in its history, Temple failed to reach its total enrollment projections by about 700 students in 2025, with 29,503 total students. 

“Whenever a division loses their leader abruptly, as that one did, it causes some amount of disruption and concern and anxiety,” said Interim Provost David Boardman. “Rob is a very stabilizing experienced leader, and he’s come in and he’s achieved that. He stabilized the unit, moved us forward and we’re achieving our goals.” 

President John Fry attributed the enrollment outcome to a decline in transfer students, less retention of first-year students and non-matriculated students and a lower-than-expected number of third- and fourth-year students, in an October announcement. 

As of March 21, Temple received about 46,000 first-year undergraduate applications for Fall 2026, surpassing last year’s total of 45,544 applicants, which was the most in Temple’s history. Applications close April 30. 

The university is 20% ahead of last year in admittances. Deposit numbers have also increased so far, Reddy said. 

Temple is also ahead with transfer student deposits for the Fall. Boardman, who created a task force to grow undergraduate transfer enrollment, credits Temple reestablishing and strengthening its relationships with local community colleges.  

“We used to have a much larger transfer population than we do now,” Boardman said. “When I came into this interim provost role, I made that our priority.” 

Boardman and President Fry are meeting with community college presidents as part of this renewed effort to enroll more transfer students. 

Reddy and the Enrollment Management office is collaborating with other Temple divisions like Student Affairs, Undergraduate Education and Institutional Research and Assessment to reach their goals. 

“Whether you’re [an admissions counselor], a financial aid officer, you work on the data or the systems. First and foremost, we’re all enrollment managers,” Reddy said. “To continue to build that sort of mindset with the team has been a big focus of mine.” 

Reddy has also focused on refining his office’s use of Slate, a software for recruitment and admissions, which Temple first deployed in Fall 2024.  

Slate’s initial rollout was hampered with implementation issues. Several admissions staff members were unable to access the system or did not know how to use it until late into the admissions cycle, The Temple News reported in September 2025 investigation. 

“Slate is having an impact, particularly on not just the management and assessment of enrollment data, but in our capacity to communicate with students in effective ways,” Reddy said. 

Temple’s retention rate for first-year students has steadily declined since 2016, when it was 90%. Temple retained 82% of first-year students in 2025, meaning they returned this year as sophomores. Reddy hopes to improve these numbers to increase overall enrollment. 

Enrollment Management is coordinating more closely with the Division of Student Affairs and Undergraduate Education to identify and support students who may be at risk of withdrawing, Reddy said.  

Student Affairs works with these divisions and Institutional Research and Assessment to connect students showing early signs of academic difficulties, like advising flags, with support services like outreach from the Dean of Students Office, wellness resources and the offerings in the Essential Needs Hub. 

“When students begin to struggle, the challenges are often both academic and personal,” wrote Jodi Bailey Accavallo, vice president for student affairs, in an email to The Temple News. “By sharing information and reviewing the data together, we can reach students sooner and connect them to the right resources.” 

Temple’s budget deficit grew from $27 million to $37 million, due in part to the enrollment decline in 2025. The revenue from tuition and fees comprises an estimated 79% of Temple Education and General budget in the current fiscal year. 

“We’ve got a long way to go until [the] census date,” Reddy said. “But as an enrollment manager, I feel much more positive sitting in the position we are in than I have at other institutions in my career, in other years.”