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President’s report highlights near record enrollment, University successes

08/26/2009

President's report highlights near record enrollment, University successes

EDINBORO, Pa. - On track toward the largest incoming class of new students in the last 17 years, it's obvious the economic downturn has not had a negative impact on enrollment, according to Edinboro University President Jeremy D. Brown.

In a report to the Edinboro University Council of Trustees Monday (August 24), Brown talked about recent successes celebrated by the University community.

According to Brown, Edinboro is welcoming its largest freshmen class since 1992. "This year we had one of the largest application pools in the last 20 years, and we received more transfer applications than ever before. More important is the quality of students we are attracting. Over 71 percent of our incoming freshmen have a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher.

 "Our student numbers are substantially ahead of other schools in state system," he added. "Students and their parents know they will receive a quality education at a fraction of the cost of private and even state-related institutions by coming to Edinboro."

Over 660 new and transfer students are from Erie County, which is a 16 percent increase compared to last year.

Graduate enrollment, which has increased significantly over the past few years, continues to grow. Brown told the Council during its quarterly meeting that current numbers indicate an increase of 26 percent and graduate applications are still coming in. Additionally, Edinboro is projecting over 1,000 online students, which is a 40 percent increase compared to last year. "We have broken graduate acceptance records and are charting new territory in online acceptances," he said.

Giving to Edinboro University remained strong, a "testimony to the loyalty of Edinboro alumni and supporters," said Brown. This past year, giving at Edinboro reached the second highest amount in University history. "During the recently-concluded fiscal year, we raised $2.9 million, second only to the previous record year - which was last year - at $3.1 million. Additionally, 21 new endowed scholarships were created, a five percent increase from last year. We expect to increase aid to students, through a variety of means, by some $2 million during the fall term for a total of $67 million in student aid."

In this time of economic uncertainty, Edinboro's recent ranking by U.S. News & World Report magazine as a "great school" with "great prices" for the second consecutive year is welcome recognition, according to Brown.

 "Affordable post-secondary education is more critical than ever."

The University was ranked fourth in the north region among universities offering undergraduate and master's degree programs for students who graduated with the least amount of debt. This past May, Edinboro's online Master of Education programs were recognized by U.S. News & World Report for being among the nation's largest. The University is also consistently ranked by Animation Magazine as one of the nation's top 15 animation programs.

Among other Edinboro University initiatives and accomplishments highlighted by Brown were:

  • The Highlands at Edinboro University student housing project, which opened last January, has a 100 percent Phase I occupancy rate and a waiting list. There are plans to break ground for Phase II as early as this fall.
  • The Mike S. Zafirovski Sports and Recreation Center should be ready to open by mid-fall as the region's largest, free-standing domed facility.
  • Edinboro's latest construction efforts were featured in the summer edition of DDC Journal, a national, professional building trade magazine.
  • Wheelchair Basketball Coach Jim Glatch, along with Fighting Scots Trevon Jenifer and Tommie Gray, recently led the United States to the IWBF U23 World Championship in Paris, France.
  • The Washington Post featured a recent visit by Coach Glatch and Edinboro wheelchair basketball players to Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
  • An article about Edinboro's ongoing efforts promoting accessibility was highlighted in the August issue of PN Magazine, published by the Paralyzed Veterans of America.
  • The University's new mission, vision and values statements were revealed at last week's campus-wide Innovation Conference. Nearly 1,300 - including alumni - participated in a survey that resulted in new statements. (http://www.edinboro.edu/about_eup/mission_statement.dot )