UNT has record Fall enrollment

[CAV]

Enrollment jumps 3.3 percent; sets new record

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- According to the unofficial headcount after the 2005 fall census date (the fall semester's 12th day of classes), the University of North Texas student population has climbed to 32,181 -- an increase of 1,026 students or 3.3 percent.

The new numbers indicate UNT has posted a new all-time high enrollment for five consecutive years and posted enrollment increases for nine consecutive years.

Last year, UNT enrolled 31,155 students in the fall term, and in 2002 the university's enrollment surpassed 30,000 students for the first time.

"UNT's continued enrollment growth demonstrates the quality of our academic programs and the strength of our commitment to the statewide ‘Closing the Gaps' effort with its ambitious goals to provide quality higher educational opportunities to growing numbers of Texans," said UNT President Norval Pohl.

"At UNT, we place a high priority on the retention of students because it is important to us that our students are not just attending classes, but that they are connected to the university. Our commitment reaches beyond concerns about access to our university's resources and goes on to concerns about how graduation from UNT can improve our students' prospects for success in life," Pohl said.

Breaking the undergraduate enrollment down by classification shows the 2005 fall freshman total of 5,629 is an increase of 8.8 percent or 454 students over last fall. The number of sophomores (5,367) increased by 2.9 percent or 150 students. The number of juniors (5,998) is up 4.6 percent or 263 students. And senior numbers (8,412) are up almost 3.2 percent or 265 students. Student classification is based on the number of semester hours passed.

UNT's total undergraduate enrollment is up 4.7 percent (1,132 students) from 24,274 in fall 2004 to 25,406 this fall.

At the graduate level, UNT's enrollment is down by 1.5 percent or 106 students.

A concentrated team effort in the area of student recruitment since 1997 (involving individuals from many university departments) has guided UNT to consistent enrollment growth.

UNT's total does not include out-of-state students who are registered only for UNT courses offered on the Internet.

UNT's fall enrollment numbers include 77 students from colleges and universities unable to start their 2005 fall terms because they were in the path of Hurricane Katrina.

On-site enrollment at the University of North Texas Dallas Campus is 1,450 students -- that makes 564 students in full-time equivalents (FTEs) for fall 2005.

This represents a 20.8 percent increase in headcount and a 33.3 percent increase in FTE enrollment (compared to fall 2004), bringing the campus a step closer to the UNT System's goal to establish the University of North Texas at Dallas.

Once the Dallas Campus enrollment reaches 1,000 full-time equivalent students, the UNT System can establish UNT at Dallas as an accredited, full-fledged, freestanding university and the first public university within the Dallas city limits. The Dallas Campus has been enrolling students for graduate and undergraduate classes and degree programs in southern Dallas since January 2000.

"We are ecstatic that the fall 2005 enrollment numbers reflect a substantial climb over fall 2004 enrollment. The numbers are very encouraging and validate our belief that with our continued offering of quality programs that are relevant to our market, students will come and our enrollment will continue to grow," said Dr. John Ellis Price, vice provost for the UNT Dallas Campus.

Last fall's enrollment at the Dallas Campus was 1,200 students (accounting for 423 in full-time equivalents or FTEs).

Construction of the first building on the permanent site for UNT at Dallas began in July 2005. The schedule calls for classes to begin in the new building in January 2007. The new campus will be located on 264 acres of land located at Camp Wisdom and Houston School roads. Initial development of the land and construction of the first building for UNT at Dallas was made possible by state authorized bonds of $25.5 million in 2003.

Until the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board verifies enrollment numbers and makes them official later in the fall, all enrollment statistics are unofficial, 12th class day numbers.

UNT News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108

Contact: Roddy Wolper (940) 565-2943

Email: rwolper@unt.edu