2016 Enrollment

[vu72]

Now that classes have started I thought I would post what has been published in the papers.

It appears there are 1075 new students which includes freshman and transfers.  No breakdown was given.  It also said there were 104 new law students and 200 new grad students.  The freshman class comes from 500 different cities and 9 different countries. I had been told previously that the freshman include 18% legacy.

I'm always amazed at the incredible draw which Valpo possesses. Just our athletes come from 29 different states and 10 foreign countries.

[VULB#62]

Now that classes have started I thought I would post what has been published in the papers.

It appears there are 1075 new students which includes freshman and transfers.  No breakdown was given.  It also said there were 104 new law students and 200 new grad students.  The freshman class comes from 500 different cities and 9 different countries. I had been told previously that the freshman include 18% legacy.

I'm always amazed at the incredible draw which Valpo possesses. Just our athletes come from 29 different states and 10 foreign countries.

And for this reason it makes it difficult for me to continually accept that we are a "regional" university according to USN&WR.

[Vale O. Paradise]

The term "regional university" is something of a misnomer. From what I understand, it doesn't have anything to do with geographical pull or significance: Instead, it is all about the kinds of degrees offered. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching developed the classification system a long time ago. Schools that are 50%+ liberal arts majors are called liberal arts colleges, schools that offer a bunch of PhD programs are national universities, and schools that offer bachelors, masters, and a handful of PhDs are called regional universities. I suppose the desire for continuity has kept the naming system going despite the confusion.

[VULB#62]

Thanks for the clarification Vale.

[agibson]

The term "regional university" is something of a misnomer. From what I understand, it doesn't have anything to do with geographical pull or significance: Instead, it is all about the kinds of degrees offered. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching developed the classification system a long time ago. Schools that are 50%+ liberal arts majors are called liberal arts colleges, schools that offer a bunch of PhD programs are national universities, and schools that offer bachelors, masters, and a handful of PhDs are called regional universities. I suppose the desire for continuity has kept the naming system going despite the confusion.

Quickly double checking, I _think_ it's "fewer than 20 PhD's per year, more than 50 masters" that gets us into the particular category
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_Classification_of_Institutions_of_Higher_Education#Master.27s_Colleges_and_Universities
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/09/05/methodology-best-colleges-ranking-category-definitions

I think the types of undergrad degrees would be a distinction between the "National Liberal Arts" and "Regional Colleges".

But, what you say is essentially on point. It's US News applying the "Regional" label to Carnegie classifications based on numbers and types of degrees offered.

I don't think the Regional label is entirely disconnected from reality, about 30% of students are from Indiana, 35% from Illinois
http://www.valpo.edu/admission/undergrad/think-valpo/frequently-asked-questions/
but those kind of numbers (e.g. lots from the Midwest) might be true of Big Ten research universities too.

(I notice that the admissions site estimates more than 40 countries represented on campus; I think the Men's Soccer team has more than 10! But maybe 10 is the number for freshmen, or just out of date.)

[agibson]

It appears there are 1075 new students which includes freshman and transfers.  No breakdown was given.  It also said there were 104 new law students and 200 new grad students.  The freshman class comes from 500 different cities and 9 different countries. I had been told previously that the freshman include 18% legacy.

I think it was reported in the papers that this was some sort of a record. Maybe for new students, but not necessarily for freshmen? And all of that "in the modern era" or some such, presumably.

In the spring it looked like it would be a robust class. But, it was a surprise to me that it passed the record class of a few years ago.

We'll probably see more numbers and hear some of the superlatives on campus in the next weeks. And the official census will be taken, and _eventually_ those numbers make it into some kind of public (Department of Education?) document.

[vu72]

The term "regional university" is something of a misnomer. From what I understand, it doesn't have anything to do with geographical pull or significance: Instead, it is all about the kinds of degrees offered. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching developed the classification system a long time ago. Schools that are 50%+ liberal arts majors are called liberal arts colleges, schools that offer a bunch of PhD programs are national universities, and schools that offer bachelors, masters, and a handful of PhDs are called regional universities. I suppose the desire for continuity has kept the naming system going despite the confusion.

Quickly double checking, I _think_ it's "fewer than 20 PhD's per year, more than 50 masters" that gets us into the particular category
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnegie_Classification_of_Institutions_of_Higher_Education#Master.27s_Colleges_and_Universities
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/09/05/methodology-best-colleges-ranking-category-definitions

I think the types of undergrad degrees would be a distinction between the "National Liberal Arts" and "Regional Colleges".

But, what you say is essentially on point. It's US News applying the "Regional" label to Carnegie classifications based on numbers and types of degrees offered.

I don't think the Regional label is entirely disconnected from reality, about 30% of students are from Indiana, 35% from Illinois
http://www.valpo.edu/admission/undergrad/think-valpo/frequently-asked-questions/
but those kind of numbers (e.g. lots from the Midwest) might be true of Big Ten research universities too.

(I notice that the admissions site estimates more than 40 countries represented on campus; I think the Men's Soccer team has more than 10! But maybe 10 is the number for freshmen, or just out of date.)

Actually the "Regional" title fits the the IU's and U of Illinois' much better than Valpo.  IU has 55.2% of their students from Indiana and Illinois (main campus) has 53.8% of its student from Illinois.  Other schools similar to Valpo like Butler, draw many more students from Indiana, 47% to be exact.  Valpo has a national draw for sure, with states like Minnesota, Texas, California and Florida among the top ten states.  Valpo's 30% from Indiana even measures up compared to Northwestern, who also has 30% of its students coming from in-state.

[crusadermoe]

Just saw the U.S. news release.  As usual, top 5 ranking etc.

Then highest enrollment of NEW STUDENTS is cited. And then all wrapped in a total of undergraduate, graduate, and law.   

So.....how does the undergraduate freshman number compare to recent years?  Is this an artful dodge?  Hard to imagine a strong number in this category would not be highlighted.

Hmmm.....

[valpopal]

Just saw the U.S. news release.  As usual, top 5 ranking etc.

Then highest enrollment of NEW STUDENTS is cited. And then all wrapped in a total of undergraduate, graduate, and law.   

So.....how does the undergraduate freshman number compare to recent years?  Is this an artful dodge?  Hard to imagine a strong number in this category would not be highlighted.

Hmmm.....

I can't give the exact final number, but I can say that I have been told the undergraduate freshman class is one of the largest seen in decades, if not the largest, and the undergraduate transfer number is clearly a record.

[bbtds]

Just saw the U.S. news release.  As usual, top 5 ranking etc.

Then highest enrollment of NEW STUDENTS is cited. And then all wrapped in a total of undergraduate, graduate, and law.   

So.....how does the undergraduate freshman number compare to recent years?  Is this an artful dodge?  Hard to imagine a strong number in this category would not be highlighted.

Hmmm.....

I can't give the exact final number, but I can say that I have been told the undergraduate freshman class is one of the largest seen in decades, if not the largest, and the undergraduate transfer number is clearly a record.

and this comes after the VUMBB team reaches the NIT finals.........................hmmmm, I wonder what the board of directors attributes this greatest increase in enrollment in decades.

[a3uge]

Just saw the U.S. news release.  As usual, top 5 ranking etc.

Then highest enrollment of NEW STUDENTS is cited. And then all wrapped in a total of undergraduate, graduate, and law.   

So.....how does the undergraduate freshman number compare to recent years?  Is this an artful dodge?  Hard to imagine a strong number in this category would not be highlighted.

Hmmm.....

I can't give the exact final number, but I can say that I have been told the undergraduate freshman class is one of the largest seen in decades, if not the largest, and the undergraduate transfer number is clearly a record.

and this comes after the VUMBB team reaches the NIT finals.........................hmmmm, I wonder what the board of directors attributes this greatest increase in enrollment in decades.

I feel like most students commit to colleges before April.

[usc4valpo]

Let's be real - Valpo's NIT apperance had no effect on increased enrollment. NCAA Final Four - likely, but not the NIT.

[Kyle321n]

Just saw the U.S. news release.  As usual, top 5 ranking etc.

Then highest enrollment of NEW STUDENTS is cited. And then all wrapped in a total of undergraduate, graduate, and law.   

So.....how does the undergraduate freshman number compare to recent years?  Is this an artful dodge?  Hard to imagine a strong number in this category would not be highlighted.

Hmmm.....

I can't give the exact final number, but I can say that I have been told the undergraduate freshman class is one of the largest seen in decades, if not the largest, and the undergraduate transfer number is clearly a record.

and this comes after the VUMBB team reaches the NIT finals.........................hmmmm, I wonder what the board of directors attributes this greatest increase in enrollment in decades.

I feel like most students commit to colleges before April.

Ok so let's look back at what happened in the spring of these high school student's junior year...

[vu72]

2016 numbers are out:

http://www.valpo.edu/institutional-effectiveness/institutional-research/longitudinal-enrollment-data/

Here is what i found.

Total enrollment was 4,439, down slightly from 2015's total of 4,544.  Freshman enrollment was up to 3,299, the highest level since 1988.  Last year's total was the highest since 1974.

For you record keepers, the highest undergrad enrollment on record was 4,186 in 1969 and the record total enrollment was 4,703 in 1971.  As a result, we have a very long way to go before hitting a new high in undergrad enrollment but total enrollment is nearing a record.  Obviously, the growth has come in graduate programs.  In 1971 for example, graduate level enrollment included 286 students in Arts and Sciences and 292 in the Law School.  In 2016 we had 636 seeking graduate degrees in Arts and Sciences, 50 in the Business School, 101 in Nursing and 353 in the Law School.  By the way, the record Law School enrollment came in 2009 at 599.

[agibson]

2016 numbers are out:

Interesting; a faster-than-usual release of official numbers?

For you record keepers, the highest undergrad enrollment on record was 4,186 in 1969 and the record total enrollment was 4,703 in 1971.

Even that's got to have an * for "modern era" or something, right? I've never gotten enough of the context and details to entirely believe them, or understand how comparable they are, but in the "Harvard of the Midwest" (or was it "Poor Man's Harvard"?) weren't we around 10,000 students?

[vu72]

2016 numbers are out:

Interesting; a faster-than-usual release of official numbers?

For you record keepers, the highest undergrad enrollment on record was 4,186 in 1969 and the record total enrollment was 4,703 in 1971.

Even that's got to have an * for "modern era" or something, right? I've never gotten enough of the context and details to entirely believe them, or understand how comparable they are, but in the "Harvard of the Midwest" (or was it "Poor Man's Harvard"?) weren't we around 10,000 students?

Good point.  The records I saw only go back to 1960.

[sliman]

I think enrollment peaked at more like 5,000 in the Henry Baker Brown era -- and it's possible that included the medical and dental schools in Chicago.  Not sure.

[agibson]

I think enrollment peaked at more like 5,000 in the Henry Baker Brown era -- and it's possible that included the medical and dental schools in Chicago.  Not sure.

Interesting. I'm not trivially googling a number. But, a number of web pages (maybe relying on each other) reference the date as 1907 or 1910, and place Harvard #1 in enrollment, Valparaiso #2, University of Chicago #3. With Valparaiso bankrupt by 1917.

OK, here's one: Brittanica puts it at second-largest, "With 6,000 students on the rolls in 1914–15".

At 10,000 I'd _really_ wondered what the impact was like on the city of Valparaiso. That wouldn't be so severe at 5k or 6k, but I still wonder...

I should read Baepler's history sometime.

[vu72]

I think enrollment peaked at more like 5,000 in the Henry Baker Brown era -- and it's possible that included the medical and dental schools in Chicago.  Not sure.

Interesting. I'm not trivially googling a number. But, a number of web pages (maybe relying on each other) reference the date as 1907 or 1910, and place Harvard #1 in enrollment, Valparaiso #2, University of Chicago #3. With Valparaiso bankrupt by 1917.

OK, here's one: Brittanica puts it at second-largest, "With 6,000 students on the rolls in 1914–15".

At 10,000 I'd _really_ wondered what the impact was like on the city of Valparaiso. That wouldn't be so severe at 5k or 6k, but I still wonder...

I should read Baepler's history sometime.

I have and just checked.  Not sure I didn't think of that earlier!  So Dr. Baepler says, on page 69 the following: "By 1910, Valparaiso University was among the largest American universities, only a little lower in enrollment than Harvard. This parity in numbers, if not in academic rigor, contributed to the popular description of Valparaiso as "The Poor Man's Harvard." "

He goes on to say, on page 89, that "Valparaiso did not seem fragile when its enrollment reached an all-time high of 4,977 in the year 1914-15." 

[agibson]

He goes on to say, on page 89, that "Valparaiso did not seem fragile when its enrollment reached an all-time high of 4,977 in the year 1914-15." 

So, it would seem that Valpo's #2 role (or whatever the exact ranking) was less about Valpo's huge enrollment historically, and more about other universities getting big. Not sure when that happened. Googling a bit of Harvard history it seems like there it might have been a WWII GI bill thing. For big state schools (land grant, etc.) I don't know when they got "big".

But, looking a bit:
https://uirr.iu.edu/
has some data for IU Bloomington and other IU campuses.

Wikipedia has IU starting in 1820 (as the "State Seminary"!) with 100 students in 1851, and a woman in 1867 (fourth public university to manage this, apparently; after Valpo of course; the IU woman went on to be their first female prof in 1873).

Bloomington cracked 1,000 only in 1906. Growing steadily, with only a modest dip during the depression, hitting 4000 in 1934. And their enrollment doubled, to more than 10,000, between 1945 and 1946.Growing dramatically again (from about 10,000 to almost 30,000) from 1958 to 1968.

In Indiana, Vincennes University apparently takes pride of place historically. Founded in 1801 by William Henry Harrison. Oldest public higher ed facility in the Northwest Territory! Apparently Vincennes was the capital of the Indiana Territory (which was what remained of the Northwest Territory after Ohio separated). And Vincennes University (VU) is now primarily a 2-year college.

[talksalot]

Chicago State total incoming freshman class:    86

[crusadermoe]

If I am reading the detailed tables right, our total of UNDERGRADUATE FRESHMAN enrollment is the highest since............(drum roll)...since 2013!!!

In addition we roared past the 2013 TOTAL OF ALL NEW STUDENTS by............ 1.3% !!!!   

Yell it loud!

[valporun]

Chicago State total incoming freshman class:    86

The woes of the uncertainty of the doors staying open until it was too late. Gotta love the corrupt political happenings of the State of Illinois under a Republican governor that actually can do something to manage money, even if in most cases it is leaving it hanging over our heads until the worst could happen.

[wh]

According to the attached article, student enrollment is in a downward spiral nation-wide, with small private institutions being especially affected.  From my perspective as an outsider, VU's recruiting team deserves a major pat on the back.

http://www.thebestschools.org/magazine/us-college-enrollment-slump/

[agibson]

Chicago State total incoming freshman class:    86

The woes of the uncertainty of the doors staying open until it was too late. Gotta love the corrupt political happenings of the State of Illinois under a Republican governor that actually can do something to manage money, even if in most cases it is leaving it hanging over our heads until the worst could happen.

It's an utter tragedy. Particularly given the types of students they serve.

At Valpo, and Chicago State is a similar size, a freshman enrollment like that would be an enormous financial challenge. Their endowment is less than $4M. They might be looking at a tuition shortfall of almost twice that.

I'm afraid the Illinois governor and legislature has murdered a university.