Pedagogy

Economic recession that USA and other nations globally have been experiencing has many effects. One of the results of such an economic downturn is that many people who lose their jobs or have the fear of low employment prospects usually consider taking a college or a university degree with the aim of bettering their employment prospects. This is what exactly has taken place in the US, with many individuals opting to join universities and colleges as the demand for better jobs increases. Desire to take either a college or a university degree has made enrollment capacity an issue in the education sector (Douglass, 2008). This term paper is aimed at discussing enrollment capacity as an issue of higher education in the United States of America.

Enrollment demand
As a result of the economic downturn, enrollment demand especially in the public institutions of higher learning has shot up. The main reason associated with this is because tuition costs in the public sector is much lower compared to those in the private independent (for profit) sectors(Douglass, 2008). A research that was conducted recently revealed that majority of the students who had planned to enroll in the private colleges or out-of-state public colleges have changed their plans and now are willing to join the in-state colleges and universities that are generally cheaper. Moreover, many who have graduated and have not gotten jobs yet often opt to further their studies with the hope of getting better employment opportunities (Curtis  Lipsett, 2009).

Problems associated with high demand for enrollment 
Despite the higher enrolment rate, many local and state governments in USA are trying to cut their budgets including that which is meant for public higher education sector, which absorbs about seventy five percent of the total number of students. This is as a result of the economic problem that the entire nation is experiencing. As a result of effects of frequent budget cuts, many public educational systems have threatened to either cap or lower enrollment this is despite the growing demand (Breneman, 2009). Those who are denied an opportunity to join the universities are turning to colleges which however cannot enroll all of them.

Case study California State University 
One such example is the California State University which is one of the largest universities in the US offering four-year university courses. The university has experienced a twenty percent increase in its freshman applications but the management has stated that the institution cannot afford more part time and thus it has already made plans to reduce enrolment by ten thousand students. This means a ten percent freshman admission decrease in the 0910 academic year. Because many of the undergraduates in the university are in their mid twenties, many students who fails to get enrolled will be forced into the labor market that is already eroding (Douglass, 2008 AASCU  PART, 2009).

Recommendations and conclusion
If such a trend continues, it is obvious that it is the students who would suffer many of them ending up with unfulfilled dreams. It is therefore the duty of both the US federal government and state governments to invest more in the education sector. More universities and colleges should be built and the already existing ones should be expanded (Mabry, 1987). Budget cuts to the education sector should be avoided and instead be exercised in less important areas such as war in Iraq. Both private and public universities and colleges should find ways of raising funds in addition to making endowments in order to have diverse sources of revenue. Finally, the government should view education as one of the factors that can contribute to economic recovery.