The University will draw up plans during the summer for increasing enrollment to about 30,000 students for the fall semester.
Jim McCoy, vice provost of Enrollment Management, Planning and Policy, said the enrollment goal will be reached through recruitment of in-state and out-of-state students.
“We have to be as efficient as possible in every parish in Louisiana as a flagship university,” he said. “And out of state, however, is a market we need to explore.”
Mike Gargano, vice president for Student Services, said recruitment is a priority for the entire LSU System.
“On average, the state of Louisiana has about 38,000 high school graduates annually,” he said. “The objective is to position the LSU System campuses as the first-choice university to continue their education.”
Gargano said recruitment has drastically changed in recent years.
“The [recruitment] industry has become very competitive,” he said. “Universities have begun to realize that high school students have a choice, and they need to position their university as the better choice.”
He said the System is exploring options for strengthening recruitment with community colleges.
He said an influx of applicants, an increase in the number of students accepted to the University and improved retention rates will lead to increased enrollment.
Gargano said the University and System should focus on student retention, defined as students who return each year, between sophomore and junior years.
He said the University needs to take inventory of the classroom space, laboratory space, availability of academic advising services and class scheduling availability to “effectively manage enrollment growth.”
McCoy said the enrollment goal of 30,000 students is attainable.
“We’ve been to 30,000 before so this is not surprising or a number that is extraordinary,” he said. “It will take probably three to five years.”
Gargano said the “maximum enrollment capacity” for the University is about 32,000 students.
“LSU could successfully manage an enrollment of 32,000 students with 75 percent undergraduates and 25 percent graduate students,” he said.
McCoy said said he is confident the University can meet the goal without sacrificing the quality of students.
“As we have more students of higher ability, we will award more scholarships,” he said.
—-Contact Lindsey Meaux at [email protected].