"We are very pleased to see the impact of our strategies on enrollments for the beginning fall term," said OU President Kevin C. Eichner. "We have been working very hard to communicate our significant differentiators to prospective students and to share with them our special approaches to educating the whole person. It is particularly gratifying in these times of economic stress and the emergence of so many competitive choices that more and more students are choosing Ottawa University to advance their careers and enhance their personal capabilities."
"Our programs, people and uniquely personalized approach to our students is obviously paying significant dividends," said Vice President for Enrollment and Adult Markets, Brian Sandusky. "We are very proud of the progress we have made and enthusiastic about what lies ahead for the University as we pursue our Vision 2020 strategic plan."
All of the University's adult and online undergraduate programs demonstrated increases in enrollments, with online increasing 174 percent over the prior year and the Wisconsin campus achieving a new student enrollment increase of 138 percent. The University's largest market in Arizona posted a 48 percent increase in its new student enrollments. Graduate student enrollments have not yet been posted, as the fall graduate term does not begin until September 19th.
At the University's residential campus in Ottawa (The College), opening enrollment was essentially flat from the same period one year ago, with stronger numbers of returning students (up 8 percent) offsetting a decline in the number of new students. The College reported opening fall enrollment of 533 students, with 199 new students including freshmen and transfers. The number of new students was down from 245 one year ago as a result of the imposition of tighter admissions, financial aid and athletic recruiting standards. Dr. Dennis Tyner, vice president and provost of The College, pointed out that the new student enrollment at the College reflected the University's strategy to "re-shape the incoming class in a more intentional way to ensure a better balance of students enrolled in our academic programs, various student activities, athletics, and to reduce the financial effects of unfunded student financial aid which had grown disproportionately to enrollments in the past few years."
Tyner also announced the formation of the College's Adawe LifePlan Center designed to significantly enhance student support services in advising, success-coaching, experiential learning, tutoring, counseling, and career planning and placement. "We expect that our Adawe Center will dramatically impact the total student experience at The College and should, over time, improve our retention and graduation rates," said Tyner. "We aim for this center to become a model for what is possible in addressing the full array of developmental and academic needs which our students are bringing with them to their collegiate experience these days. We believe it will become a major differentiator for our institution as we deepen our commitment to the holistic education of each of our students."