November 09, 2007

Enrollment, admissions, applications up for spring

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Preliminary enrollment numbers for the spring 2008 semester at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are up from last year – the result of hard work and cooperation from the entire previous year, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management Victoria E. Valle said.

"This is the result of the hard work that started even before I came here, from the previous year," she said, noting that the college administrations within the University are cooperating with enrollment management to achieve the increased numbers.

"A lot of people give lip service to the idea that enrollment management is everybody's business, but it's a fact here at SIUC," Valle said. "Everyone has really embraced the notion."

James L. Carl, interim director of undergraduate admissions, said on-campus and total enrollment, admissions and application numbers are up compared to this time last year. Here are numbers for the spring 2008 semester applications and admissions as of late October:

• Total applications – up by 171 from last year

• On-campus applications – up by 149 from last year

• Total admissions – up by 78 from last year

• On-campus admissions – up by 55 from last year

The trend holds for enrollment numbers as well. Enrollment numbers include continuing students:

• Total undergraduate enrollment – up by 251 from last year

• Total on-campus undergraduate enrollment – up by 280 from last year

• Total enrollment – up by 343 from last year

• Total on-campus enrollment – up by 363 from last year

Valle said she is working on initiatives and programs to keep the numbers growing. She noted that SIUC representatives at the recent St. Louis National College Fair were "busy all weekend" answering questions from prospective students.