Date of Conferral

2-11-2026

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School

Education

Advisor

Elissa Dawkins

Abstract

The precipitous decline in enrollment is a concerning aspect of higher education. The problem addressed in this study was that faculty members at a local university on a Caribbean island have faced an approximate 44% reduction in student enrollment over the past six years. Guided by the new learning compact framework (NLC), the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore industrial technology lecturers' perceptions from one Caribbean Island university about the challenges they experience from declining enrollment and examine their suggestions to improve enrollment. Twelve lecturers with tertiary-level teaching experience at the institution were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis, utilizing open coding, was employed to analyze the data in a manner consistent with the NLC framework. Four themes were identified: (a) program structure and delivery, (b) student experience and support, (c) operational and administrative impact, and (d) marketing, recruitment, and industry alignment. The findings show that a variety of issues may have contributed to the low student enrollment, including poor customer service, the current mode of program delivery, which is face-to-face, and the four-year duration of the degree. The study also revealed that lecturers were concerned, apprehensive, and demotivated about the low enrollment, which may lead to the program's closure and subsequent job losses. Findings were used to develop a position paper with policy recommendation for policymakers to provide relevant tangible and intangible resources that may improve the educational experiences of both students and lecturers. With improved resource availability and use, positive social change may occur by establishing a conducive learning environment and fostering a sense of belonging, thereby increasing student enrollment.

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