Friday, January 31, 2003
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Transfer numbers offset deficit The
increase in the number of transfer students attending TCU this semester
is a result of the university attempting to minimize financial deficits,
Dean of Admissions Ray Brown said. Brown
said TCU enrolled 192 transfer students this semester compared to
154 last January, yielding a 20 percent increase. Each
semester, Brown said, he attempts to enroll one transfer student
for every student who leaves the university. Consequently, the number
of transfer students enrolled is determined by the number of students
who leave in any given semester, he said. “We
have to bust our butts harder now to attract students for the future
because as our economy weakens, our endowment weakens too,”
Brown said. The
recruitment of new transfer students wasn’t his only priority
for this semester, Brown said, but he realizes that the addition
of transfer students plays a monumental role in university economics. “A
balanced budget is a great thing,” Brown said. “The recruitment
of transfer students helps us achieve that goal.” According
to numbers released on the 12th day of classes, the undergraduate
enrollment has increased from 6,309 last spring to 6,365 this spring,
Brown said. The total university enrollment has increased from 7,428
to 7,570, he said. The return rate of the freshman class of fall
2002 has risen from 93 percent to 94 percent, Brown said. TCU
continues to attract numerous transfer students because the university
doesn’t consider financial aid in the admissions process, he
said. “At
TCU, I’m pleased to report financial aid has no bearing on
whether or not we offer a student admission,” Brown said. Ben
Alexander, director of admissions marketing, said enrollment has
increased since the university began electronically communicating
with prospective students. Alexander
said TCU’s Web site serves as the main tool for gathering information
regarding the university. Because about 60,000 students express
interest in TCU a year, the university wants as much information
as possible to be available online, he said. “Electronic
communication has filled the gaps between our communication with
future students,” Alexander said. Tim
Miller, a junior business major who transferred from the University
of Texas at Arlington, said after he completed his application,
he immediately received numerous e-mails informing him about university
activities and requirements for graduation. “I’ve
always been impressed with the stature of academics they had to
offer, but the overwhelming factor that attracted me to TCU was
the school’s desire to meet my every need and make me feel
welcome,” Miller said. Alexander
said the Internet’s greatest feature is its option for students
to apply online because it increases both the number and quality
of applications TCU receives every year. Brent
Yarina |
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TCU Daily Skiff © 2003 |
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