Fall enrollment and retention at The University of Memphis was over-projected by 2.1 percent this year by the Office of Institutional Research, according to an article by Dr. Gary Donhardt published in The Researcher. Actual enrollment at The University was 19,986 instead of 20,422, the article said.
The office of Institutional Research projected the Fall 2000 enrollment last year by studying the enrollment growth -- a combination of new students and retention rate.
The retention rate is determined by the number of returning students over the two previous Fall terms, said the article. The article said two factors affected the enrollment -- retention and the type of students entering the institution.
Donhardt's article said the overall retention for all students dropped from 72.3 percent to 70.8 percent, and all undergraduate figures were down from last year -- including a 2.58 percent decrease for first-time freshman.
Though the number of students entering the institution was only 38 less than last year, according to the article, the type of students admitted are key to long-term enrollment. Since 83 fewer freshman enrolled this Fall, the article predicted a long-term ripple effect that will adversely affect enrollment over the next four to six years.
"Two things influence a student's decision as to what school they are going to attend, and those are cost and distance," said Dr. Donald Carson, vice president for Student Affairs and vice provost for Enrollment Services.
Carson, who came to The U of M in 1974, said he thinks students who are not considering The University could change their minds if they came for a visit.
"If an art major comes and meets with an art professor and visits a class, then he is more likely to come here than someone who never visits," Carson said. He said there are a number of students who visit The University and find that it really appeals to them.
Carson said another factor that would improve enrollment at The U of M would be the ability to waive out-of-state tuition for students from nearby counties in bordering states. Several colleges in Mississippi and Arkansas already waive tuition for Shelby County students.
"We have never been able to get the people in Nashville to give us the authority to wave tuition," Carson said. One other school, East Tennessee State University, would also like to have the authority to wave out-of-state tuition for students nearby in North Carolina, said Carson. Carson said one Tennessee university, Austin Peay, waives tuition for students from some counties in Kentucky, as do a number of the Tennessee community colleges.
"The economy is one thing that impacts the amount of students who return to school," Carson said. He said when there are more economic opportunities for jobs and money, students register for fewer hours.
"More and more universities have come to recruit, and that has hurt us," Carson said.
He said even though enrollment is down, The University will not lose any money from the government next year since they have exceeded the benchmark levels of enrollment for this year.
