Fall semester enrollment
patterns show several positive trends

Sept. 8, 2005 -- Following the close of the fall semester enrollment period Tuesday, preliminary and unofficial numbers reveal several positive trends at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, according to university officials.

Among the highlights revealed in a quick analysis:

• This year’s class of new freshmen shows a 15.5 percent increase, up by 214 students to 1,592.

• The level of academic preparation is significantly 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 21.3, compared to 20.6 last year.  That moves ASU ahead of the national average of 20.9; the state average is 20.3.

• University Honors Scholarship awards doubled since last fall.

• The full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment is virtually the same as a year ago.

• Occupancy in the traditional residence halls and apartments is up by 155 from a year ago.  In addition, the second phase of Indian Village apartments opened this month.

• These increases are evidence that the university’s strategic enrollment initiatives are already showing gains, with the full impact of the plan to be realized over the upcoming years.

ASU-Jonesboro's fall semester unduplicated headcount at all instructional sites (including Degree Centers and Regional Programs offerings) is 10,414, only slightly below the 10,508 recorded last year.  Within that total, Jonesboro campus recorded an increase of 69 students.

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.

For example, five part-time students enrolled in three credit hours each is equivalent to one FTE, even though the headcount is five.  The FTE for ASU-Jonesboro, including all instructional sites, is 8,395, just 11 less than in 2004.

The larger and better prepared freshmen class is largely attributed to 57 percent more scholarship acceptances through a re-vamped scholarship program; excellent work by the Enrollment Services staff; and the calling program that involved more than 50 faculty members last spring when prospective students were making decisions.

Faculty participating in the calling program said that answering students’ and parents’ questions helped smooth the admission process and established many friendships.

“I was able to answer questions, set the facts straight, get financial aid (representatives) on the phone and even tell some students what financial aid they had been awarded,” recalled Judy Pfriemer, one of several nursing faculty members who made calls. “I was able to make connections with students who have now, this fall, come to my office to meet me.”

Bonnie Thrasher, instructor in journalism, had similar experiences.

“This was one of the most rewarding recruiting activities that I’ve participated in as a faculty member.  The students I talked with were really excited about ASU," she explained.  “I think this is effective because when a faculty member shows an interest in what these students are doing and where they are headed, it creates a connection to the university."

Another perspective on the program's success came from Dr. Doris Chu, assistant professor of criminology, who noted, "I thought it was effective because I eventually saw, at the orientations, the students and parents whom I called."

Small decreases in headcount among upperclassmen were not unexpected, primarily because of improved graduation statistics.  During the last academic year, ASU awarded a total of 2,147 diplomas during Commencement ceremonies, a record for the number of graduates in a single year at ASU.

Dr. Les Wyatt, president of ASU, commended the faculty and staff for their diligence in developing the enrollment management plan, portions of which have already being implemented.

In his monthly "First Friday" report to the campus last week, he said that the enrollment plan, " . . . is an extension of the strategic initiative of our master plan that focuses on enrollment as an institutional priority, and also is a response to the Higher Learning Commission finding that we need to focus on stabilizing the institutional enrollment base."

He also referred to several strategies " . . . to be deployed over the coming year to stabilize, refine, and increase enrollments in 2006-07 and beyond."

A breakdown by class shows first-time freshmen, 1,592; other freshmen, 1,248; sophomores, 1,617; juniors, 1,812; seniors, 2,406; unclassified, 483; and graduate, 1,256.

This year's freshman class enrollment also includes a record number, 476, from Craighead County.  The increase in minority enrollment is approximately six percent.

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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