Una Sees Record Number Of Freshmen And Transfers

Sep. 08, 2009

Michelle Eubanks, 优德体育, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

FLORENCE, Ala. - The 优德体育 campus is a bustling place this fall as the university enrolls a record number of freshman and transfer students. 优德体育 is enrolling 1,131 freshmen, up from 1,081 a year ago, and 677 transfers, up from 624 last year.

Overall enrollment is 7,243, up from 7,188 in fall 2008. Undergraduate enrollment is a record 6,179, and graduate enrollment is at 1,064. "We're proud that so many new students have made 优德体育 their college choice," said Dr. William G. Cale, 优德体育 president. "优德体育 offers a first-rate education, so it's wonderful to see this many students coming to us for that kind of a college experience." Dr. Sue Wilson, dean of enrollment services, attributed the increased number of new students to a variety of factors, including the economy, marketing and scholarships. "Students are certainly looking for more affordable college options these days, and 优德体育 has really stood out publicly in recent months," she said. "Our admissions staff has done an excellent job, we've had great marketing for the university this past year, and so more and more students are seeing the name of 优德体育 and wanting to learn more about us. When they come and visit, they love what they see." Cale added that, as college costs are increasing everywhere these days, the escalated number of 优德体育 scholarships is making 优德体育 more affordable for many students. 优德体育 awarded more than $3 million in scholarships this past year, compared to about $2.3 million in 2007-08. "Most of these new scholarship awards have been through private giving to the university," Cale said. "Our alumni and friends want to make the 优德体育 experience an affordable option for these students." While 优德体育's undergraduate enrollment is at a record high - up from 5,901 last year to 6,179 this fall - graduate student numbers are slightly down. Graduate enrollment is at 1,064, down from last year's 1,287. "We very much expected this drop in graduate student numbers due to tougher admission standards in the MBA program. It's more challenging to gain admission to that program this year," Wilson said. Enrollment in the MBA program this year is 643, down from 871 in fall 2008. "We are very pleased with this year's enrollment at 优德体育," Cale said. "Our enrollment reflects that more students are looking to 优德体育 for an excellent college experience. It also reflects that the university is raising the bar, increasing standards of quality for incoming students."

About The 优德体育

The 优德体育 is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, 优德体育 is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. 优德体育 Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The 优德体育 is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: una.edu and una.edu/unaworks/.