The student population at the University of Wyoming has grown slightly over the past year. UW reports that 162 more students attend the University than did last spring.
The College of Engineering and Applied Science has seen most of the recent growth. Its student population is up 9% or about 150 students from last year.
New Engineering Dean Michael Pishko says despite the downturn in the oil industry, companies are still looking to hire new engineers.
They're losing essentially a lot of very talented people who are entering retirement age and essentially leaving the workforce, and so they still need that engineering body.
“We actually met with some oil execs recently down in Houston and they indicated to us that they’re going to continue to hire," says Pishko. "And the reason is because of this demographic change. They’re losing essentially a lot of very talented people who are entering retirement age and essentially leaving the workforce, and so they still need that engineering body.”
Pishko says the Governor’s science initiative and push to improve UW’s engineering programs is driving the spike in new students and the college will have to hire more faculty if the growth continues.