By Gerardo R. Partido
Variety News Staff

THE University of Guam’s enrollment for spring 2007 is up 7.4 percent over the prior year, the university announced.
The number of students enrolled this spring totals 3049 students, compared to 2,839 registered students in spring 2006.
According to UOG President Harold L. Allen, these enrollment figures mark the largest spring enrollment for the university in five years.
“This increase follows a 4.7 percent increase in enrollment in fall 2006. I believe the increase in enrollment is a reflection of public confidence in the University of Guam,” Allen stressed.
The continuing growth in enrolment was one of the factors cited by a visiting team from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, which gave a favorable review of UOG’s operations.
The WASC team met with students, faculty, and staff during the three-day visit and conducted a “capacity and preparatory review” from Jan. 31 through Feb. 2.
The visiting team praised the progress that UOG has made over the years but also expressed concern over the financial problems that UOG has been facing due to non-remittance of funds from the government of Guam.
Due to shortages in funding, the university has announced an austerity program that would cut down its expenditures, prioritize service contracts, and freeze hiring due to the lack of funding allotments from the administration
For fiscal year 2007, all UOG non-personnel expenditures will be limited to 80 percent of approved budgets and expenditures already exceeding that level are frozen until the 80 percent threshold is reached.
According to UOG spokesperson Cathleen Moore-Lin, last week’s WASC review is one component of the WASC re-accreditation process that examines the current state of the UOG, the institution’s plans to improve student learning and educational effectiveness, and how the university plans to use its resources to achieve institutional goals.
The review will be followed by an “educational effectiveness review” scheduled for 2008.