UA FALL ENROLLMENT GAINS BY 1.1 PERCENT AT 15,226

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Total fall enrollment for the University of Arkansas has increased to 15,226, which is a 1.1 percent gain over last year’s enrollment of 15,060.

"We have a number of successes with this year’s enrollment," said Arlene Cash, dean of enrollment services. "Not only has the size of the student body increased, but more importantly, the preparedness and diversity of the students enrolling at our campus shows that we are attracting top high school, transfer, graduate and professional students," Cash said.

Gains were made in several categories:

· Undergraduate enrollment increased from 11,943 to 11,999, a gain of one-half percent.

· Professional enrollment (law school) rose from 365 to 377, a gain of 3.3 percent.

· Graduate enrollment saw the biggest gain, from 2126 to 2259, up 6.3 percent.

· Transfer enrollment went from 1,057 to 1,160, a gain of 9.7 percent.

· Non-degree enrollment, both undergraduate and graduate, dipped from 626 to 591, a drop of 5.6 percent.

In terms of diversity, minority enrollments were up across all categories, save Native American/Native Alaskan, where they remained constant at 306 students.

· African-American enrollment increased from 880 to 945, a gain of 7.4 percent.

· Asian-American enrollment increased from 393 to 400, a gain of 1.8 percent.

· Hispanic enrollment increased slightly from 206 to 207, a gain of one-half percent.

· International students increased form 721 to 782, a gain of 8.5 percent.

· The number of students choosing not to report ethnicity rose from 17 to 76, an increase of 347.1 percent.

"Increasing the University’s diversity is of utmost importance to creating a campus more reflective of our larger society as well as expanding intellectual and cultural opportunities for all students at the University of Arkansas," Cash said. "We are extremely pleased with the increases we’ve made this year, particularly in our African-American and international student enrollment."

Chancellor John A. White said, "I am delighted with the gains we have made across the board. This success brings us closer to realizing our major goals for the University, particularly the goals of growing the size and quality of our student body and enhancing campus diversity."

Freshman enrollment, Cash noted, declined nearly 8.4 percent, from 3,876 to 3,549. "This is due in-part to our new, tougher admissions standards coming on line this fall plus the fact that we had to reduce the number of new Chancellor's Scholarships from 491 last fall to 312 this fall," she said. "The University’s financial circumstances necessitated the decline in the number of Chancellor’s Scholarships we could support this year.

"We do have a smaller freshman class, but ACT scores along with other individual factors show that these students are better prepared and will likely be successful in the college environment," Cash said. This year’s UA freshman class boasts an average 24.42 ACT and 3.51 grade-point-average. Last year’s freshman class boasted a 24 ACT and 3.43 G.P.A.

In addition, Cash said, the University saw a marked increase in the sophomore class this fall - up 13.3 percent from 2,473 to 2,802 - an indication that more freshmen may be completing their first-year requirements more quickly and moving on to the next level.

Additionally, high school graduation rates within Arkansas have been a factor the past several years. "This makes it extremely challenging to enroll larger freshman classes," Cash said. "We’ve had a slight dip in our freshman numbers, but the quality of this class is quite impressive. Given that we have implemented our increased admission standards, I think we will find that this class will be quite successful."

Also, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education has projected no growth whatsoever in the number of Arkansas high school graduates through the 2009-10 academic year.

Chancellor John A. White reflected Cash’s enthusiasm for the quality of the University’s student body.

"We couldn’t have asked for a better freshman class and overall enrolling student body," said Chancellor John A. White.

"I believe the enrollment at the University of Arkansas this fall reflects a highly motivated group of students who made last year one of the most prestigious academic years ever at the University of Arkansas," White said.