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   from the issue of September 15, 2005

     
 
Fall enrollment numbers improve

 UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

Student enrollment for the fall semester dipped to 21,675, down 117 students compared to a year ago, but UNL has welcomed a 9 percent increase in first-time freshmen.

According to an announcement by Harvey Perlman, UNL chancellor, the first-time freshman headcount is up 294 students, to 3,560 from 3,266 in fall 2004. UNL also showed enrollment increases among students of color and transfer students.

The average ACT score for students is 24.9, up from 24.8 a year ago, and overall credit-hour production is up .5 percent, meaning although there are fewer students, they are taking more classes, Perlman said.

"I'm encouraged by the data from our fall enrollment and I'm pleased that our determination last year to put our entire university community behind our renewed recruiting effort has paid off," Perlman said. "I applaud our admissions office and our entire campus community for their efforts. We have some work to do in continuing to grow our enrollment, but we're on the right track. Students want to choose Nebraska."

Admissions efforts have focused on the campus-visit experience, targeting growing out-of-state suburban markets, continued recruitment of students from across Nebraska, and increasing transfer students.

According to other data collected, entering first-time freshmen are the most diverse group of students yet, increasing 25.7 percent over last year. In 2005, 9.8 percent of first-time freshmen are students of color, up from 8.5 percent last year. Among the entire undergraduate class, 8.2 percent are students of color, compared to 7.5 percent last year. Transfer students are up 53 over last year, to 930.

The colleges showing the largest enrollment increases are the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, up 42; College of Arts and Sciences, up 37; Education and Human Sciences, up 25.

The fall semester registrations are reported annually to the provost of the University of Nebraska based on six-day census figures from the campus Institutional Research and Planning offices. There are some late enrollments from emergency admissions from students displaced by Hurricane Katrina, that aren't reflected in the data.


6-day Census

Figures collected during UNL's annual 6-day census include:

• Total enrollment is 21,675, down 117 from a year ago.

• First-time freshmen numbers increased by 294 students to 3,560.

• Average ACT score at UNL is 24.9, up from 24.8 last year.

• Among undergraduates, 8.2 percent are students of color, up from 7.5 percent last year.


GO TO: ISSUE OF SEPTEMBER 15

NEWS HEADLINES FOR SEPTEMBER 15

Perlman outlines plan for campus childcare facility
Fall enrollment numbers improve
Grant aids hemophilia treatment
UNL opens doors to hurricane-affected students
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Libraries receive 5,000-plus Sandhills images
NU offers tuition scholarships to Katrina victims
Research gauges impact of New Orleans port disruption
UNL food allergen test commercialized

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