Every academic semester, the University conducts its official headcount on the 14th day of class, and this year the University saw an increase in total enrollment of 300 undergraduate students from last year.
Lesa Jeansonne, applications consultant in the Office of Budget and Planning, collects the enrollment data and said to gather 14th day enrollment numbers, the team that compiles the information looks at the University Registrar’s information to see how many are enrolled in courses and University fees that have been received and processed.
The University exceeded its 5,500 new freshmen target with a freshman class of 5,984, bringing total enrollment for undergraduates to 24,931.
Stuart Bell, executive vice chancellor and provost, said the larger freshman class could be attributed to hard work and strategy from recruiters.
Additionally, he said the quality in this class is represented in academic growth with its cumulative higher ACT score than last year’s class.
This fall, the University also saw an 8 percent increase in new transfer students.
Bell said this number is set to increase given the new Tiger Bridge Program. The program allows students from Baton Rouge Community College to live in McVoy Hall on campus and use other University facilities, take courses for one year and transfer to the University the following year.
There are currently 170
students enrolled in this program, which will provide more transfer students next fall, Bell said.
As for improvements, Bell said this year’s out-of-state enrollment number is lower, decreasing from 4,687 in fall 2012 to 4,419 this fall.
He said this could be because of substantial tuition increases, but overall, the numbers in enrollment are stable.
Several colleges saw a shift in enrollment numbers this semester, from reductions to increases.
The School of Coast and Environment saw the most substantial change, with a 27 percent increase from last fall, amounting to 13 additional students to the 62 total enrolled in the school’s fifth year at the University.
However, many departments have not been as fortunate with retention. The College of Art and Design saw the biggest decrease, losing 8 percent, or 63 students.
Dean of the School of Coast and Environment Christopher D’Elia said the increase in enrollment within the program, which has only been around for five years, was great news. D’Elia said word of mouth is one of the key ways the program has grown.
Additionally, this semester a general education oceanography course is being offered online, D’Elia said, and an environmental science online course is in the works, further strengthening and getting word out about the college.
He said the school is research-intensive and requires undergraduate students to complete a research internship.
The college is also volunteering itself as a test bed program and model for different Quality Enhancement Program trials regarding undergraduate research for the University’s reaffirmation of accreditation in the spring.
“We offer a small college experience in a major research university with a world-class faculty,” D’Elia said.
Though the program is small, he said this increase in enrollment also shows the high caliber of students and quality at the University.
“We offer a small college experience in a major research university with a world-class faculty.”