MU has the fastest-growing undergraduate population in the Association of American Universities, but sinking high school graduation rates are expected to have an effect on next year’s enrollment.
MU had a record-breaking freshman class of 6,136 students this fall, according to an MU news release. The release stated that the amount of total undergraduates has increased by 32 percent in the past nine years, from 19,698 students in 2002 to 26,024 students this year, making it the most rapid growth in the AAU.
With that much growth, MU constantly has to make changes to accommodate a larger student population. Senior Associate Director of Admissions Chuck May said the university had to increase classroom space, using the newly renovated Tate and Switzler halls, and obtain new instructors.
May said the residence halls have also been monitored closely so every student who signed a contract had a living space.
May said benefits to having a large population include increased student diversity.
“On opening day, our total minority enrollment was up 13 percent from last year,” May said. “Diversity can better prepare students for working in a global society.”
Vice Provost of Enrollment Management Ann Korschgen said in the news release MU doesn’t intend to cap admissions, so students are never competing for spots. She said many aspects attributed to this influx of students in the last few years.
“The increase is caused by excellent academic programs that attract students, by the beautiful campus and facilities and by our outstanding recruitment team,” Korschgen said.
Next year’s enrollment might not follow this trend. A state-wide drop in students finishing high school is causing a similar drop in the student population of colleges. So far, only 5,393 students have been accepted to MU for fall 2012.
“We had been projecting that (enrollment) will be smaller due to the decline in the number of high school graduates,” Korschgen said.
Regardless, MU continues its recruitment efforts across the state. May said the recruitment team uses a variety of techniques to contact potential students, from direct mail and email to representatives visiting college fairs and high schools, in order to increase admissions.
The recruitment team also has to consider the shrinking amount of high school graduates when deciding how they plan to recruit.
“High school senior classes are shrinking each year,” May said. “Our recruitment methods have been expanded over the past few years in preparation for the decline in the student population.”
He said these expansions include an increased interest in out-of-state markets, such as Chicago and Dallas. Since MU now has a regular flow of students from those areas, May said MU is also looking at new markets in states such as Minnesota and Colorado.
May said though conference realignment has been a common topic of discussion around campus, it has no effect on how the Office of Admissions proceeds with enrollment.
“We will have to change the text a little in brochures and on our website, but we will continue to recruit students just as we have successfully done over the past decade,” he said.
Currently, MU has no plans to increase admissions requirements for incoming students, May said.
