Student enrollment increased 7.3 percent for the 2010 spring semester over last year, according to the Division of Enrollment Management.
Total student enrollment at UNM is now 26,148.
Following the increase, total student credit hours rose by 7.8 percent, a total of 305,035 credit hours. This rise is prompting the University to ensure there are enough classes for students to graduate on time, said Terry Babbitt, associate vice president of Enrollment Management.
“We watch that very closely,” Babbitt said in an e-mail. “We should have the capacity in our support services and facilities to accommodate the increase.”
To bring more students to campus, UNM has enhanced the quality of messaging and images sent to all prospective students, sent e-mail reminders about re-enrolling and sought out transfer students from in-state feeder schools and out-of-state markets, Babbitt said.
For the fall semester, UNM saw about a 6 percent increase, which Carmen Alvarez Brown, vice president of Enrollment Management, attributed to the streamlined e-mail correspondence and the economy.
Despite the increase, freshman Alyssa Velasquez said she didn’t feel like just another student receiving e-mail correspondence from the University.
“The e-mail between semesters was really helpful,” Velasquez said. “It kept me updated about when to sign up for classes on time, and I got all the info I needed. It really felt like the school cares about its students.”
Freshman Candace Salazar said she enjoyed the e-mail reminders but felt the recruitment package she received before attending UNM could have been enhanced by students talking about the ways to get involved on campus.
“When everything comes from staff it seems weird,” she said.
While UNM’s administration hounds students to stay in school, there are factors outside of the University that may also increase enrollment. The processes to apply for and receive financial aid have become easier for students, and the economy has played a role, however Babbitt contends a weak economy is not the most significant contributor to the increase.
“We have had great success in enrolling non-resident students, which really defies the economic variable,” Babbitt said.
Babbitt explained the University is seeking a collaborative effort between academic and other support services to “send a unified message that it benefits students tremendously to stay on track and graduate as soon as possible. It seems to be working since returning students are up 6.8 percent compared to last spring.”
Other enrollment changes show freshmen increased 21.69 percent, transfer students rose by 18.71 percent and graduate students increased by 4.89 percent compared to last spring.
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Junior Tracie Brazie said he’s noticed more students on campus
“It is definitely harder to find a parking spot,” he said.
Student enrollment increased 7.3 percent for the 2010 spring semester over last year, according to the Division of Enrollment Management.
Total student enrollment at UNM is now 26,148.
Following the increase, total student credit hours rose by 7.8 percent, a total of 305,035 credit hours. This rise is prompting the University to ensure there are enough classes for students to graduate on time, said Terry Babbitt, associate vice president of Enrollment Management.
“We watch that very closely,” Babbitt said in an e-mail. “We should have the capacity in our support services and facilities to accommodate the increase.”
To bring more students to campus, UNM has enhanced the quality of messaging and images sent to all prospective students, sent e-mail reminders about re-enrolling and sought out transfer students from in-state feeder schools and out-of-state markets, Babbitt said.
For the fall semester, UNM saw about a 6 percent increase, which Carmen Alvarez Brown, vice president of Enrollment Management, attributed to the streamlined e-mail correspondence and the economy.
Despite the increase, freshman Alyssa Velasquez said she didn’t feel like just another student receiving e-mail correspondence from the University.
“The e-mail between semesters was really helpful,” Velasquez said. “It kept me updated about when to sign up for classes on time, and I got all the info I needed. It really felt like the school cares about its students.”
Freshman Candace Salazar said she enjoyed the e-mail reminders but felt the recruitment package she received before attending UNM could have been enhanced by students talking about the ways to get involved on campus.
“When everything comes from staff it seems weird,” she said.
While UNM’s administration hounds students to stay in school, there are factors outside of the University that may also increase enrollment. The processes to apply for and receive financial aid have become easier for students, and the economy has played a role, however Babbitt contends a weak economy is not the most significant contributor to the increase.
“We have had great success in enrolling non-resident students, which really defies the economic variable,” Babbitt said.
Babbitt explained the University is seeking a collaborative effort between academic and other support services to “send a unified message that it benefits students tremendously to stay on track and graduate as soon as possible. It seems to be working since returning students are up 6.8 percent compared to last spring.”
Other enrollment changes show freshmen increased 21.69 percent, transfer students rose by 18.71 percent and graduate students increased by 4.89 percent compared to last spring.
Junior Tracie Brazie said he’s noticed more students on campus
“It is definitely harder to find a parking spot,” he said.
