The University’s campus is busier and more crowded than everaccording to the official numbers of enrolled students.
The University welcomed 221 freshmen, a 4 percent increase sinceFall 2003, totaling the freshmen class at 5,310 enrolled students.University administrators are linking this increased enrollment toendeavors set by the Flagship Agenda and an expansion ofrecruitment efforts.
“The increase is because of the Flagship Agenda and the effortsput forth by Dr. Emmert,” said Karen Koenig Denby, assistant vicechancellor and dean of enrollment management, referring to theformer University chancellor Mark Emmert. “We certainly haveexpanded our recruitment efforts and President Jenkins has help toperpetuate the steps put forth by Dr. Emmert.”
Denby said the out-of-state student enrollment was the largestincrease in student population. The number of enrolled out-of-statestudents increased from 3,468 students for the Fall 2003 semesterto 4,170 out-of-state students for the Fall 2004 semester.
The University also has seen an increase in its diversityfactor. The minority enrollment was totaled at 26,397 students.Denby said an increase of 95 percent of students classifying as”non white” also attributed to the University’s diversity factor.The number of African American freshmen, particularly, have risensince last year adding to student diversity.
Denby said with the financial support from the Tiger AthleticFoundation, funding the renovations like Free Speech Plaza, andalumni support in recruitment efforts help to encourage a largerstudent enrollment.
“More alums across the country are going into high schools andrecruiting students on a personal level,” Denby said.
Denby said she will be interested to see how the numbers areaffected next year.
“The numbers will not increase because next year we will havehigher admission standards,” Denby said. “We will have a smaller,but stronger class with a higher number of re-enrollment next year.We are more focused on retention and graduation instead ofaccepting more students.”
Denby said along with the Flagship Agenda and recruitmentexpansion, having a national championship football team helps withUniversity recognition.
“I think winning the national championship definitely helped outwith the enrollment. We received a lot of coverage because of it,”Denby said. “Whenever Dr. Emmert was featured in a newspaper orinterviewed, he would always stress the other achievements ofLSU.”
The recruitment efforts have increased and expanded along withthe enrollment numbers. Denby said more prospective students areshown the campus and the University on a more personal level withguided tours of campus.
“The prospective visitors on campus are able to see the studentlife, interact with friendly people and are shown our beautifulcampus,” Denby said.
The increase in student population is seen throughout campusespecially in parking and residence halls. Yvette (Mimi) LaValle,communications manager for Residential Life, said the residencehalls are filled almost to 100 percent occupancy, leaving the roomsvery crowded.
“Next year we are going to institute a policy where a studentmust apply to LSU before applying for a housing application,”LaValle said.
University students, however, have not seen an alarmingoverpopulation on campus.
“I have not seen much of a difference on campus,” said DanielLundqust, a biological chemistry junior. “I do not live on campusso I am always on and off campus, but in the elective classes I amtaking with freshmen have always been full. I have not noticed anovercrowding.”