Preliminary fall semester enrollment up
by 361
At the end of the fall semester enrollment period
Tuesday, preliminary and unofficial enrollments statistics at
Arkansas State University in Jonesboro show a headcount increase of
361 over last year, the university announced today.
The unduplicated headcount at all instructional
sites associated with ASU-Jonesboro (Degree Centers and Regional
Programs offerings) is 10,775, compared with last year’s final tally
of 10,414.
"We’ve seen a significant increase in our
freshmen class for the second straight year," commented Dr. Rick
Stripling, vice chancellor for student affairs. "Freshmen enrollment
has increased 27 percent over the past two years. This year’s class
represents the largest freshmen class we have seen in eight years."
Another strong point in the enrollment
analysis is the number of returning freshmen from last year.
"From last year’s freshmen class, we’re
showing a retention rate of 71 percent, which is a good indication
that that class is strong academically. We hope to see this trend
continue," Stripling added.
He attributed the increases to the collective
efforts of the Admissions Office, the Graduate School, and
Marketing, along with the guidance and strategies developed through
the enrollment management plan.
Enrollment Highlights
Among the other enrollment highlights revealed in a quick
analysis:
•
This year’s class of new freshmen, with 1,754, shows an increase of
170 over last year and a 27 percent increase from two years ago.
•
The level of academic preparation is higher in the freshman class,
based on the students’ average ACT score and average high school
grade point averages. This year’s average ACT score for entering
students is 21.5, compared to 21.3 last year.
•
The full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment increased by 317. FTE
enrollment is more important because that is the number used to
determine the amount of state support to ASU. FTE is an enrollment
measurement that converts the part-time enrollments into a full-time
equivalent.
•
Occupancy in the traditional residence halls and apartments is up by
501 from a year ago, to a total of 2,406, an all-time record for
on-campus housing. Some of that can be attributed to the required
residency requirement for freshmen, but a significant part of the
increase occurred in the upper classes because of new and improved
housing facilities.
•
Graduate School enrollment is 1,436, an increase of 160 more than
last year and a record enrollment in master’s, specialist’s and
doctoral degree programs.
•
Online instruction has also increased significantly. This fall,
1,104 student were enrolled in Web-based or Web-assisted
instruction, compared to 694 last year.
•
Small decreases in headcount among upperclassmen were not
unexpected, primarily because of graduation statistics. During the
last academic year, ASU awarded a total of 2,123 diplomas during
Commencement ceremonies, just under the record that was set last
year.
All enrollment numbers are preliminary as of
the end of the 11th day of classes, the official day on which
reports are based, and subject to verification before final
submission to the Department of Higher Education.
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