Record enrollment possibly for the last time
Issue date: 2/23/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
"This is the 12th consecutive term that we have recorded enrollment increases, and this is the highest spring enrollment in the university's history," said McNeese President Dr. Robert Hebert. The fall enrollment was also the largest in the university's history. One of the largest increases is in first-time freshmen enrollment, an increase of 22 percent over last spring. "We believe that this is due to students enrolling for spring classes under the current admissions standards," Ed Khoury, dean of enrollment said.
Tougher, new admissions standards will apply to all students entering Louisiana public universities this fall. Khoury noted those students that enroll in summer classes at McNeese can enter under the current admissions requirements. State higher education officials have estimated a drop in freshman enrollment of 18-20 percent this fall as all four-year public universities tighten admissions requirements.
In addition to effective recruiting, Hebert attributes the record fall and spring enrollments to improved retention rates. "We have worked very hard across all areas of the university to increase and strengthen retention efforts," Hebert said.
The McNeese retention rate of 74 percent matches the national average. Hebert has moved the retention target to 80 percent. "At this university, student success and our strong commitment to academics are taken very seriously by all departments, academic and non-academic. All areas of the college experience are important to student success and retention." According to Hebert graduation rates will continue to rise as retention rates rise. Also, students attending McNeese full-time this semester rose by 7 percent to 5,984 over 5,595 last spring.
This semester, the McNeese Colleges of Nursing and Science and the Division of General and Basic Studies experienced the greatest growth in undergraduate enrollment. In the Doré School of Graduate Studies, the Colleges of Engineering and Technology, Nursing and Science had the largest increases in students.
Tougher, new admissions standards will apply to all students entering Louisiana public universities this fall. Khoury noted those students that enroll in summer classes at McNeese can enter under the current admissions requirements. State higher education officials have estimated a drop in freshman enrollment of 18-20 percent this fall as all four-year public universities tighten admissions requirements.
In addition to effective recruiting, Hebert attributes the record fall and spring enrollments to improved retention rates. "We have worked very hard across all areas of the university to increase and strengthen retention efforts," Hebert said.
The McNeese retention rate of 74 percent matches the national average. Hebert has moved the retention target to 80 percent. "At this university, student success and our strong commitment to academics are taken very seriously by all departments, academic and non-academic. All areas of the college experience are important to student success and retention." According to Hebert graduation rates will continue to rise as retention rates rise. Also, students attending McNeese full-time this semester rose by 7 percent to 5,984 over 5,595 last spring.
This semester, the McNeese Colleges of Nursing and Science and the Division of General and Basic Studies experienced the greatest growth in undergraduate enrollment. In the Doré School of Graduate Studies, the Colleges of Engineering and Technology, Nursing and Science had the largest increases in students.
