Utsa largest enrollment drop in Texas....... (San Antonio, Alamo: 2013, high school, university)

[Saytown]

But! for a good reason.

The University of Texas at San Antonio's student body shrank by a larger number than any other public university in the state between fall 2012 and fall 2013 partly because of tightened admissions standards, officials said.
So this year's freshman class was smaller, even as the graduating class for last school year was larger.


“We brought in fewer and graduated more, and when you add those two things together, it has an impact,” said George Norton, UTSA's associate vice president for student affairs.
The UTSA headcount peaked in fall 2011, with 30,968 students, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Since fall 2012, UTSA's enrollment has dropped 1,749 students, a decrease of 5.7 percent, to a fall 2013 total of 28,725, according to preliminary data the board released last week for institutions across Texas.
As part of UTSA's effort to become a top research university, the school has ratcheted up admissions criteria three times since 2008, and now the vast majority of freshmen ranked in the top half of their high school class, Norton said.
“What we have done by raising up the admissions criteria sharply is dramatically increase the academic preparedness level of the freshmen class. ... so they will have a greater likelihood of being successful,” he said.
Norton said the university graduated 406 more students in 2012-13 than the year before.
UTSA is still the largest single institution of higher learning in San Antonio, though the five Alamo Colleges collectively enroll greater numbers. The Alamo Colleges enrollment grew by just 86 students, or 0.15 percent.
Tuition and fees for a full-time, in-state UTSA undergraduate student went up by $78 to $9,082 for the 2013-14 school year, according to the school's website.


Courtesy of your Express News

[Bo]

And before long, this will lower the dropout rate. Win + Win.

[L210]

Doesn't this say that not enough students applying to the school meet the admissions standards and that they have yet to attract enough qualified students?

[ashbeeigh]

Originally Posted by L210

Doesn't this say that not enough students applying to the school meet the admissions standards and that they have yet to attract enough qualified students?

Based on the reputation of accepting everyone the best have not been applying. As the reputation changes more qualified applicants will apply. No?

[L210]

Originally Posted by ashbeeigh

Based on the reputation of accepting everyone the best have not been applying. As the reputation changes more qualified applicants will apply. No?

I guess so.

[CyVaquero]

Prior to moving to SA I worked at a then top 30 (15 public) business school. The Dean's 5-year plan was to move us into the top 20/10 respectively, which he accomplished. A large part of the strategy was to tighten admissions criteria. This serves two purposes - 1) it lowers the faculty/student ratio, 2) higher admissions requirements tend to translate to higher graduation rates. Both of these are important factors in rankings. Rankings translate to higher visibility which attracts more private and public research funding.

[pobre]

As someone who attended UTSA in the 90's (graduate level), (and my husband also attended and received his MBA in 2001), I can attest that many of the students were not qualified to be at a 4 year university. There were many "0" level math and English courses (when freshman level courses begin with "1"). These were designed, of course, as remedial courses.

Many of us questioned why these students were not directed towards community colleges to complete their remedial work prior to gaining full acceptance. When I looked at the course catalog, I was stunned at the ratio of 0, 1, and 2 level courses to 3 and 4 level....which told me that many students did not last beyond freshman and sophomore years.

Now that my son is in the midst of college applications, I was hesitant to to encourage him to investigate UTSA as one of his choices. After we looked closer, we found that the school has changed greatly (physically and academically) since we attended. I applaud recent actions taken by UTSA to raise standards.

[Shock]

UTSA is a completely different school from the 90s....
And even just during the 2000s, the school transformed greatly. It's still growing exponentially, so much that it would be ridiculous for your son not to consider UTSA.

[pobre]

Originally Posted by Shock

UTSA is a completely different school from the 90s....
And even just during the 2000s, the school transformed greatly. It's still growing exponentially, so much that it would be ridiculous for your son not to consider UTSA.

Oh, he is. I was just reluctant at first, but it really is a completely different place.

[Spursrock]

UTSA was my back up plan if I didn't get into UT lol only cause I knew anyone can get in. It's good their making it a bit tougher.