Enrollment up in economic downturn

February 11, 2009
By Britney Meyer
Staff writer

Enrollment expectations set by the university’s budget projections were exceeded for the spring 2009 semester. Enrollment was higher than university administration thought they would achieve, according to Marya Leatherwood, interim Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs. 

Statistics across the board were encouraging for UIS. Continuing transfer and graduate students for the spring semester were the only numbers down, a mere .3% and 4.1% relative to last spring.

Despite the fact that budgets for admission and retention efforts are constrained, statistics are relatively positive in most areas of enrollment. 90.3% of freshmen/first year students returned for a second semester at UIS, while 14.7% more transfer students were enrolled this spring than last. Even graduate students enrolling in this spring semester was up 4.6%, relative to last spring.

It is encouraging that in spite of the economic downturn, a small liberal arts college's enrollment numbers are up overall. The only significant decreases were among graduate and continuing transfer students. According to Leatherwood, “the uncertainties in this economy may be prompting our working adults students to take a 'wait and see' attitude about continuing to enroll on a part-time basis.”

First year programs have shown promising results in retaining students.  Programs such as Center for First Year Students help ease the transition for high school students and new freshman coming to UIS. With this program being so new, Leatherwood still has faith it will show positive outcomes in the years to come.