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SDSU Marketing & Communications
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Positive Academic Trends Boost Enrollment at SDSU
Admissions Cycles, Requirements Will Shift in 2003/2004 to Manage Demand

SAN DIEGO, Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - Several positive academic trends at San Diego State University have resulted in an unexpected increase in the student population, SDSU officials said, so the university is adjusting future admissions cycles to help manage enrollment.

This fall at SDSU, the average course load carried by undergraduates has increased significantly, from 12.5 units last year to 12.8 units. Also, the percentage of last year's freshmen who continued to study at SDSU this fall (the "continuation rate") also rose, increasing to 76.7 percent from 75.3 percent last year. The percentage of admitted first-time freshmen who enrolled at SDSU (known as the "show rate") also increased from the previous year.

"This is tremendously encouraging data from an academic standpoint," said SDSU President Stephen L. Weber. "It shows that our students are taking more courses in an effort to graduate faster. It shows that more of our students are successfully transitioning to the university environment and are remaining here to study, and it shows that SDSU is becoming an increasingly desirable higher education choice for high-achieving students coming out of high school."

These factors also caused SDSU's total enrollment of 27,622 full-time equivalent students (FTES) to unexpectedly exceed the university's budgeted enrollment by 1,100 FTES. To help bring enrollment back in line with the university's resources, SDSU is implementing several additional admissions policies for the 2003/2004 academic year, including:

· Not having a spring 2004 undergraduate admissions cycle.

· Requiring upper-division transfers to complete a minimum of 60 transferable units, including a certified general education package of 39 units that includes

"Golden Four" courses in English, critical thought, math and speech, as well as all of the preparation for their major that is available at their community college. (This will be a permanent requirement.)

SDSU receives approximately $6,000 in state funds for every student up to its budgeted enrollment. So overenrollment by 1,100 FTES means the university must provide instructional and student services without $6.6 million it would normally receive from the state.

"Overenrollment effectively is a hidden tax that all of our students pay," said Ethan Singer, associate vice president of Academic Affairs. "We have enough classes to accommodate these students, but overenrollment stretches many other vital services that support students, from library and computer lab space to academic advising to recreational facilities."

Singer said the changes to the admissions cycle and requirements will help ensure SDSU's students experience the best possible learning environment, and they will help ensure all upper-division transfers are fully prepared to enter their majors when they come to SDSU.

"Closing the spring admission cycle will not limit the overall number of admissions to SDSU, but will enable the university to enroll a larger, more diverse class in the fall, as well as grow summer enrollment - a key part of our long-term enrollment management strategy," Singer said.

SDSU plans to accommodate a student population of 37,959 in 2009-2010 (including enrollment in off-campus centers). Without enrollment management strategies, university officials estimate the student population would grow to well over 50,000 by 2009-2010, a figure that would make the university among the five largest in the country. That campus, officials believe, would be inundated with students it would be ill equipped to serve.

"We have limits in terms of funding and facilities, so we have to keep enrollment in line with resources to provide the best-quality education to our students," Weber said.

SDSU is announcing the admissions changes now to ensure students, high school counselors and others have ample lead time to learn about the change and prepare for it.

"We wanted to provide future SDSU applicants with the opportunity to accelerate their course work in order to be eligible for fall 2003 admission, or decelerate their work and apply for fall 2004," Singer said. "In order to minimize the impact of this change, upper-division transfers admitted to fall 2004 will be allowed to enroll at SDSU starting with the summer 2004 term."

SDSU is also continuing its "dual admission" program that it launched in fall 2002. In the program, local first-time freshmen with remedial education needs attend community college to complete their remedial coursework. Students gain dual admission to SDSU and a designated San Diego community college. They are provided SDSU ID cards, SDSU academic advising, access to SDSU Associated Students' programs and are eligible for SDSU housing while they attend classes at the community college. To maintain their SDSU admission status, these students must complete their remediation within one year. Once that's accomplished, they are permitted to enroll in classes at SDSU. About 300 students are currently enrolled in the dual admission program.

"The program is another tool that will help us manage our enrollment and provide our students with remedial needs a better chance of succeeding once they come to SDSU," Singer said. "We hope it will further increase our retention rate."

Individuals with questions about SDSU's admission requirements, including service area boundaries and the dual admission policy, can find detailed information at http://arweb.sdsu.edu/es/admissions/, or call SDSU's Prospective Student Center at (619) 594-6336 or email admissions@sdsu.edu.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 78 areas, master's degrees in 62 areas and doctorates in 14 areas. Students participate in academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.