University Enrollment Up To 17,821
Largest Freshman Class Ever Enters University This Fall
Last updated Tuesday, September 20, 2005 10:07 PM CDT in Front
By Jeff Smith
The Morning News
FAYETTEVILLE -- The University of Arkansas student population reached another all-time high with 17,821 students on campus, campus leaders announced Tuesday.
The 3.2 percent growth from last year comes mostly from the largest freshman class on record, 2,766 students, a 10 percent increase from last year's class of 2,514 freshmen.
Enrollment has increased 21 percent from 14,740 students in 1997, when John White became chancellor. White wants to have 22,500 students on campus by 2010 as part of his ambitious goal to increase the size and stature of the university.
The official enrollment includes 66 students displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
Dawn Medley, admission director for two years, credited the increase in the freshman class to recruitment endeavors in neighboring Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Enrollment of out-of-state students increased 40 percent, from 1,646 students last year to 2,297 this fall.
"With our academic reputation and the expanded efforts, it was payoff time," Medley said. "I'm hopeful the momentum will continue."
The university gives in-state tuition to students who live in neighboring states and Kansas if they have a minimum ACT score of 24 and at least a 3.0 high school grade point average.
"We also have a lot of students who are coming here (from neighboring states) and are paying full price," Medley said.
The number of in-state undergraduate students fell by 113 from last year to 11,091 students this fall. Arkansas residents represent 81 percent of the 13,650 undergraduate students on campus.
Medley said the admission office would "continue to do what we're doing" to attract in-state students. She said the university faces "intense competition" from other Arkansas schools for in-state students.
"When you have as many higher education institutions in the state, there's a finite number of students available," she said.
Medley said the admission office is recruiting harder and in more places across the state and is sending more direct mail to Arkansas high school students than in the past.
The university also had a slight gain in the number of students who identified themselves as members of minority groups. Those students increased from 2,089 last year to 2,126 this fall.
Black enrollment increased by one from last fall to 982 and has ranged from 965 in 2000 to 1,022 in 2002. The number of black freshmen increased from last year by 10 students to 126 this fall. Blacks account for 5.5 percent of the student body.
"We still have a long way to go, but seeing improvement in those numbers is heartening as well," Provost Bob Smith said.
The admission office is working with the Black Alumni Society and is planning an event in Hot Springs with the UA Inspirational Singers, Medley said.
"By just doing those kind of things, special events, trying to go out to the community and being very visible has helped us quite a bit," she said.
Officials are particularly pleased with the growth in Hispanic enrollment, which grew from 298 last year to 372 this fall, a 25 percent increase. Hispanic freshmen increased 42 percent over last year to 78 students. Hispanics account for 2.1 percent of the student body.
Medley said the Hispanic population in the region is coming of age and interested in college.
The university is also holding Diversity Impact events when minorities visit campus for two days and the provost's office pays for them to take the ACT. Officials have said not taking the ACT keeps many members of minorities out of college.
The ACT estimates more than 80 percent of Arkansas blacks and Hispanic high school juniors have not taken the predominant college-entrance exam in the state.
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