ISU enrollment skyrockets

Indiana State welcomes 2,707 new freshmen to the campus for the 2010-11 school year, historically, the largest class size since the school has been operating.

"We are pleased and proud to report that we have welcomed the largest incoming class in the 145-year history of Indiana State University," President Daniel J. Bradley said in an ISU Newsroom press release.

Compared to last year's number of 2,035 freshmen, the class of 2014 had an increase of 672 students. There are many factors for the 33 percent increase.

"The ‘College Go Week!' program really helped with getting students to apply for school," said John Beacon, vice president of enrollment. "Some signed up that wouldn't have if this program wasn't in place."

"College Go Week" was an initiative headed by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education that brought attention to the lack of college attendance in the state. For the week of Oct. 12-19 of 2009, Indiana's colleges waived the application fee for all applying. The program was made possible by donated funds from the U.S. College Access Challenge Grant.

"But the initiative is not the only reason our numbers increased," Beacon said. "For the past three years, we have had a welcome center located in the Admissions office that has been very effective at recruiting students."

 Along with the personal approach and attention that each student who walks through the door gets, there is a calling center where students follow up with would-be Sycamores to ask how their visit went. 

Not only does admissions treat each student like an individual to make them comfortable, Beacon said, but the campus of ISU is an intimate, small setting that puts prospective freshmen at ease. 

"The attitude of ISU is a positive one, which makes for a more inviting environment for new students," Beacon said. "Also, pride seems to be at its peak this school year. The Commons is full, the classes are full and everything is buzzing."

Because the number of freshmen increased, that means that more scholarships were given out and more honors students joined the program this year.

This year there are 224 honors students as compared to 2009's number of 130, an increase of 94. Meanwhile, 1,252 laptops were distributed compared to 742 of last year, an increase of 510. But what do all these numbers mean for ISU?

"This shows that ISU is not only welcoming the largest incoming freshmen class in its history, but that we are also welcoming more and more bright and academically motivated students to campus," said Sarah Wurtz, admissions associate director. "It attests to Indiana State becoming a destination university."

Wurtz added that three more President's Scholarships were awarded, as well as a new suite of academic scholarships that were offered to this year's incoming freshman class. She also anticipates a more competitive class for the Fall of 2011 "with more top students applying to ISU."

Numbers that were also raised considerable include the number of new transfer students, 790, and new graduate students, 499. Overall, the student population at ISU increased 9 percent from 10,534 to 11,494. 

In years to come, that number may steadily increase. But for now, ISU can revel in the new, record-breaking numbers for the school year of 2010-11.