September 10, 2009
Fall 2009 Enrollment
MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University’s Fall 2009 new transfer student and Quad Cities enrollments have increased, while total enrollment for the University declined, according to 10-day enrollment reports.
Total new transfer student enrollment for Fall 2009 increased 4.6 percent to 1,332, up 59 students from last year. Quad Cities enrollment is up 1.5 percent, to 1,413 in Fall 2009 from 1,392 in Fall 2008. The Fall 2009 student headcount of 10,487 at the Western Macomb campus is down from 10,785 in Fall 2008. The number of new freshmen for Fall 2009 is 1,641 compared to 1,816 in Fall 2008.
The number of full-time enrolled students went from 10,648 in Fall 2008 to 10,446 in Fall 2009. Much of the decline; however, is related to a significant increase in the graduation rate and larger graduating classes, as well as significantly reducing off-campus graduate sponsored-credit courses. Fall 2009 enrollment is 12,679, compared to the Fall 2008 total of 13,175.
“We are pleased that transfer students are selecting Western Illinois University to finish their degree and that our Quad Cities campus continues to grow. However, one of the most important factors in our success is the retention of our students. This year our graduation rate was the highest in the University’s history at 59.3 percent,” said President Al Goldfarb. “It is our mission to support students and provide the resources they need to succeed, including such factors that recently allowed us to retain our top tier ranking by U.S. News and World Report, such as our high graduation rate, small classes, a low student-faculty ratio and an affordable education.”
In addition to the recent U.S. News and World Report, in which Western continues to be ranked in the top tier of Midwest Universities Master’s-granting institutions for the fifth consecutive year, Western has also been named a Best Midwestern College by the Princeton Review and was recently designated as a “Military Friendly School” by G.I. Jobs Magazine.
Despite a decline in the number of new freshmen enrolling at Western, new freshmen ACT average scores have increased, from in 21.2 in Fall 2008 to 21.3 Fall 2009 and the percentage of new students in top 25 percent of their graduating class has increased to 24 percent this fall, from 22 percent in Fall 2008.
Fall 2009 extension enrollment is 840, compared to 1,030 in Fall 2008. However, extension enrollment for undergraduate-level courses is up 121 students, from 355 in 2008 to 476 in Fall 2009. Graduate student enrollment increased on the Macomb campus to 1,080, from 1,076 in Fall 2008. WIU-QC graduate student enrollment is 682, down seven students from last year.
“While Western remains successful, we do still face some considerable challenges. We must focus on increased freshmen recruitment and retention,” Goldfarb added. “We must carefully review our recruitment procedures, and we must focus on making freshmen recruitment a Universitywide priority.”
Also, as a result of benchmarking enrollment reporting practices, Western Illinois University now reports total enrollment for on-campus and extension (off-campus) students by campus served to be consistent with updated reporting standards.
According to Joe Rives, vice president of Quad Cities, planning and technology, as part of Western’s institutional self-study for reaccreditation from the Higher Learning Commission-North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the University benchmarked enrollment reporting practices at peer institutions, as well as with state and federal standards.
“As a result of this process, the University is now reporting on-campus and extension (off-campus) enrollment by campus, while total enrollment now reflects enrollment at both Western Illinois University campuses,” Rives added.
Copy By: Darcie Shinberger
