2015 Enrollment

[31Ragin97]

i am a little confused. I thought awhile back when we stopped being "open admissions" that is when enrollment dropped. I thought it was better academically to have less quantity but more quality with tougher admissions standards. has this sudden increase followed a lowering of the standards and a move to a higher acceptance rate?

[HoustonCajun]

OLOL property has got to be done. Will make an amazing difference in growth and opportunity for expansion. Love how it fits into master plan.

What about all of the land between campus from Johnston St. to the OLOL property? Not sure what is remaining. Seems like we should be expanding campus all the way down W. St. Mary St. to OLOL.

[ManAboutTown]

i am a little confused. I thought awhile back when we stopped being "open admissions" that is when enrollment dropped. I thought it was better academically to have less quantity but more quality with tougher admissions standards. has this sudden increase followed a lowering of the standards and a move to a higher acceptance rate?

Lowering of standards?

[Cajun Monkee]

i am a little confused. I thought awhile back when we stopped being "open admissions" that is when enrollment dropped. I thought it was better academically to have less quantity but more quality with tougher admissions standards. has this sudden increase followed a lowering of the standards and a move to a higher acceptance rate?

Thought we were just getting a higher quantity of higher quality students?

[31Ragin97]

sounds good! I hope you are right Cajun monkee!

[MelRock]

The standards have not been lowered, they have actually gone up since we first started selective admissions.

[LaCajunsFan]

The standards have not been lowered, they have actually gone up since we first started selective admissions.

Yep. So the increases we are seeing are not only in the numbers, but also the quality.

And I agree that the building of those dorms has had a huge impact. Couple that with the new U nest door and we should see even greater in the coming years. I would imagine that we lost quite a few applicants who did not want to be in the middle of a construction like we've had the last few years, lol.

[LaCajunsFan]

The standards have not been lowered, they have actually gone up since we first started selective admissions.

My favorite parts of the article....

"The Fall 2015 freshman class reached an historic level for academic achievement. It posted an average ACT composite score of 23.4 and an average high school cumulative GPA of 3.32. In Fall 2014, the average ACT composite score was 23.10; the average high school cumulative GPA was 3.3. "We also have a record number of high school valedictorians in this freshman class – 111. And, we have a significant boost in the number of first-time freshmen who have an ACT composite score of at least 25, with a 26 percent increase over last year," Bowie said."

[ulforlife]

And people thought increasing tuition would have a negative effect...

[Policarp]

All due respect to athletics but having worked with recruiting on academic side (New Orleans area) for many years, the new dorms have had a major impact on numbers and quality esp. from NO area, Alexandris, Shreveport and out of state. Back in the old days, NO was our second largest area of recruitment. It had dropped badly in the bad dorm days to a point where Houston was nearing the their numbers here. They're back (Yes, Boomer, lots of Blue Jays too). Athletics makes it more fun; with the new dorms, now the U and we're in a good position for growth. To a point we need to look at more dorm space. Now, we need a good infusion into some of our academic programs (LIKE a NEW Engineering building and labs) and we really grow.

I think you would like my vision for a "UL City". Higher grade apts/condos (5-10 floor modern apt buildings) an Urban City in the space where Blackham is now to CajunDome. Students could have rental options starting with regular dorms up to Apts/condo sized living quarters. Use main street frontage for retail space/restaurants. UL City would expand game day experience to a new level.

[Lexhead]

Yep. So the increases we are seeing are not only in the numbers, but also the quality.

And I agree that the building of those dorms has had a huge impact. Couple that with the new U nest door and we should see even greater in the coming years. I would imagine that we lost quite a few applicants who did not want to be in the middle of a construction like we've had the last few years, lol.

I know it may be hard for people to do, but can we give T-Joe and Martin Hall a little cred for the fantastic changes to our campus? Dorm, buildings, walk of fame, quad, etc. I honestly don't know how they are doing this in the present fiscal environment.

[cajun_lannister]

in 2010 we voted for the master plan so a fee was added since then