September 13, 2006
Dear Colleagues,
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a better institution than it has ever been before. I base that statement on the quality of our students. This year’s full-time beginning freshman class has an average ACT of 21.3, the highest in ULM’s history. Last year the average ACT of the freshman class was 20.7. This six-tenths of a point increase may not sound like much to those unaware of such statistics, but this is an enormous increase. Secondly, the average ACT for the entire student body increased from 20.4 last year to 21.0 this year - again the highest in ULM’s history.
In addition, since 2002 we have doubled the number of incoming freshmen receiving TOPS scholarships with more than half of this year’s full-time beginning freshmen receiving TOPS. This is also the largest percentage in ULM’s history. As the quality of our students increases at ULM, increases in the graduation rate are sure to follow. We see that the strength of our faculty and academic programs coupled with increased admission standards are attracting better students. We are very deliberately defining who we are as an institution as we recruit students who are academically prepared for university-level work.
Every new fall semester brings new opportunities and challenges. The first years of this administration saw audit, budget, and enrollment challenges. Last year we faced the devastation of our state by two hurricanes. This year we face a different but equally challenging issue.
Several years ago the Board of Regents developed a Master Plan for Higher Education, and changes and shifts in enrollment were expected as the Master Plan was implemented. We recognized last spring, and it was confirmed this summer, that we would be facing a difficult enrollment environment. Most of our sister institutions faced declining enrollment last year, and many are facing it again this year. This year we prepared for the shortfall in our budget and do not expect to do any more than minimal belt tightening.
The fall 2006 final enrollment for ULM is 8571 students which represents a decline of 490 students from last fall’s official pre-hurricane enrollment of 9061. After the storms, we accepted 214 “visiting students” which inflated the final post-hurricane enrollment to 9275 students.
The reasons for the decline in enrollment are complicated and varied. In my speech to the faculty earlier this fall I stated the following;
. . . the expected decline this fall has its roots in a number of areas; limited size of our professional programs, increased admission standards, a declining student population in our service area, the Diaspora of south Louisiana combined with the lingering emotional and psychological effects of the storms, a full employment environment, and a more stringent appeal policy are all contributors.
To be sure, there are other reasons yet to be identified for the decline. The University is already working to determine and alleviate any impediment to enrollment and student success. One example of that effort lies in the new Bachelor of Health Studies program. This new program, which ULM expects the Board to approve this fall, adds strength to our current health science offerings and gives students another career path in the health sciences with a variety of career opportunities. Students entering this program may someday work in hospital management, pharmaceutical sales, or nursing home management.
Earlier this fall, academic deans, department heads, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, and the Administration began discussions on enrollment and retention issues. We also asked the Enrollment Management Council to establish a number of sub-committees to examine various aspects of enrollment management including advising, recruiting, retention, efficacy, FRYS, financial aid processes, and others. If you are asked to serve on any of these sub-committees, I am personally asking you to give freely of your time in service to the University. In addition, Noel-Levitz is returning to campus in October and will assist us as we delve into these issues. I specifically requested that they provide us a retention consultant with an academic background and faculty credentials.
As we survey the current landscape at ULM, we see more than new buildings. We see an increase in faculty scholarship and a renewed commitment to faculty involvement in shared governance. We see more students living on campus than in past years, more students proudly wearing maroon and gold and new Warhawk apparel, as well as freshly-painted buildings, new Smart Classrooms, and increased grant awards. Our Dual Enrollment program has increased 100%, enrolling high-achieving high school students from throughout our region. ULM now features more engaged students who are better prepared for our rigorous academic challenges. We may be smaller, but our student quality is at an all-time high.
ULM is an extraordinary institution; our faculty and staff make our students some of the most competitive graduates in the state. As always, we will continue to explore innovative ways to ensure the success of our students during their time at ULM and beyond. And we will do that by working together to face yet another challenge.
James E. Cofer, Sr.
ULM President