Enrollment numbers

[VULB#62]

VU72 raises good points with his (lengthy) quotes from our website. Not one reference, however, to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.  Hebrews 12:2

Paul

However, I did count the mention of "Christian" (Christian = Christ = Jesus) and "God" 14 times. And the term "Lutheran" is repeated at least 10 times. Seems pretty clear where the university is positioning itself.

[valpo95]

VU72 raises good points with his (lengthy) quotes from our website. Not one reference, however, to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.  Hebrews 12:2

Paul

However, I did count the mention of "Christian" (Christian = Christ = Jesus) and "God" 14 times. And the term "Lutheran" is repeated at least 10 times. Seems pretty clear where the university is positioning itself.

It seems that this is the key point of this debate. At least on the Valpo website, there are many references to Lutheran heritage and Christian traditions. However, references to Jesus Christ on Valpo's website seem difficult to find at best.

This is in contrast to Baylor's website, where phrases like the following occur in many places : "Today, Baylor remains a place where the Lordship of Jesus Christ is embraced, studied, and celebrated." https://www.baylor.edu/illuminate/index.php?id=951740. This is from the first pillar of Baylor's strategic plan (2018-2022).

I'm not trying to have a point by point comparison of  Valpo and Baylor's websites. However, a good question for our next president and board is if Valpo would endorse or deny the following, ""Today, Valparaiso remains a place where the Lordship of Jesus Christ is embraced, studied, and celebrated."

[crusadermoe]

VU72, I do stand corrected on the website in large degree. 

Thank you for pointing it out.   On a technical point, it is not as succint as Baylor's.   And by mentioning Christian just once or twice in a long monologue, it does not step up as strongly as Baylor.  And VU78 does point out as well that Jesus Christ is not explicitly mentioned. 

But VU does go further in its statement that the dozens of schools once founded by Christians (Harvard's founding was explicit).   I don't have time to read and confirm those dozens of schools' websites for you right now, but over time I have looked at many of them while my daughters were in high school.

[crusadermoe]

Well Valpo95 certainly called out the question the VU Board needs to ponder as it calls the next President.  Wow.

You can't punt that one in our current times.  "Choose this day whom you will serve."

Back to the original topic of this thread, today is September 19.  I have not followed much lately.  Have enrollment numbers been shared somewhere?   

[loschwitz]

Should Valparaiso simply follow that Baylor statement?   Maybe it would be better to work with Valpo's "In luce tua, videmus lucem."   Something along these lines:

The motto of our university is "In thy Light, we see light."  By this statement we affirm that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome.  Christ is a light to our feet and a lamp to our path.   He bids us follow Him in confident faith and in service to others.

[valpo95]

The total enrollment numbers are down quite a bit as far as I can tell. In terms of undergraduates (no grad / law), the numbers are as follows (for the Fall of each year)

2019  3011
2018  3220
2017  3255
2016  3299

For reference, the total students (including graduate students) is 3521 in 2019.

As far as I can tell, the number of incoming freshman (Fall 2019) is 587. This is below the number of 748 for Fall of 2018.

[vu72]

The total enrollment numbers are down quite a bit as far as I can tell. In terms of undergraduates (no grad / law), the numbers are as follows (for the Fall of each year)

2019  3011
2018  3220
2017  3255
2016  3299

For reference, the total students (including graduate students) is 3521 in 2019.

As far as I can tell, the number of incoming freshman (Fall 2019) is 587. This is below the number of 748 for Fall of 2018.

There were about 150 transfers in as well.

[vu84v2]

Should Valparaiso simply follow that Baylor statement?   Maybe it would be better to work with Valpo's "In luce tua, videmus lucem."   Something along these lines:

The motto of our university is "In thy Light, we see light."  By this statement we affirm that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome.  Christ is a light to our feet and a lamp to our path.   He bids us follow Him in confident faith and in service to others.

No. Valpo should definitely NOT use any statement like the one used at Baylor.

[vu84v2]

The total enrollment numbers are down quite a bit as far as I can tell. In terms of undergraduates (no grad / law), the numbers are as follows (for the Fall of each year)

2019  3011
2018  3220
2017  3255
2016  3299

For reference, the total students (including graduate students) is 3521 in 2019.

As far as I can tell, the number of incoming freshman (Fall 2019) is 587. This is below the number of 748 for Fall of 2018.

There were about 150 transfers in as well.

What were the transfers, and thus the total incoming students, for Fall 2018? You need those to make an accurate comparison - though this looks like a significant (and very concerning) drop.

[valpo64]

I thought it was interesting that I recently heard a radio commercial for Valpo on 670/The Score in Chicago.  They are the big sports radio station in the Chicago market.  It would seem that we are getting more aggressive in recruiting prospective students, which is good.  It seems like every other private school in the mid-west has stepped up their recruiting approach also.

[vu72]

I thought it was interesting that I recently heard a radio commercial for Valpo on 670/The Score in Chicago.  They are the big sports radio station in the Chicago market.  It would seem that we are getting more aggressive in recruiting prospective students, which is good.  It seems like every other private school in the mid-west has stepped up their recruiting approach also.

I think it is clear that the Administration had seen enough and got rid of the VP of Admissions--That is my guess, not based on anything other than that--but in any event, he is gone.  Valpo has replaced him with a guy with a terrific track record, most recently coming from Texas Christian.  I'm going to look him up at Homecoming.

https://www.valpo.edu/president/leadership/presidents-council/raymond-a-brown/

[valpo95]

There were about 150 transfers in as well.

What were the transfers, and thus the total incoming students, for Fall 2018? You need those to make an accurate comparison - though this looks like a significant (and very concerning) drop.

I don't have all of the comparative numbers right at hand (for total incoming students including transfers). That said, as far as I can tell, the undergraduate headcount by year is an apples to apples comparison, net of all transfers in and transfers out. Similarly, the 2019 freshman number is directly comparable to the 2018 freshman number.

[crusader05]

We are definitely down, although we were at record sizes a few years prior. So the issue is, was that a peak and an abnormality and this is really what our normal should be or are we flailing.

I have heard that the new guy is way more aggressive in admissions. That we are paying for more names and that they are tripling the number of high school visits. Apparently we have not been quite as aggressive as is standard and it looks like that has bit us in the proverbial butt. Hopefully we see a change now that we have a full year of the new VPs leadership.

One other piece that I did hear was that retention was up both from last year and above our 4 year average so that could be the marker of another positive change if it continues.

[crusadermoe]

Wow.  Ray Brown does seem to have exceptional credentials from TCU and Marquette.  Good hire.

Let's hope he solves the problem before it keeps snowballing. 

[vu72]

Wow.  Ray Brown does seem to have exceptional credentials from TCU and Marquette.  Good hire.

Let's hope he solves the problem before it keeps snowballing. 

And he is actually a Lutheran.  The first at this position in many years.  Might help with attracting Lutheran kids as well.

[usc4valpo]

The legendary Dan McNeil of WSCR is a Valpo fan.

[crusadermoe]

Given Ray Brown's resume and being Lutheran, I would guess he is viewing Valpo as his last rodeo and no longer needing to prove much in his career after what he did at Marquette and TCU.   This is a fortunate situation for Valpo. 

Obviously the hoice of a new President is critical for the long-term.  But I do concede that, in the next 1-4 year window, recruiting is probably more a result of the nuts and bolts of strong prospecting strategy and strong execution of the sales process.   

But over the long term donations could be affected if the new President is another hyper--academic/green new deal/business-hating lefty. We probably need a businessman with a better handle on the economic and political realities found in our midwestern alumni.  These big groups of alumni went to school i the conservative and careerist business student era of  the late 70s and the 80s.  Butler hired one.  I haven't looked hard yet at the results they got from that hire. 

[David81]

I've spent a lot of time checking out websites of colleges and universities of all shapes and sizes. Believe me, VU's Lutheran and overall faith commitments are definitely evident. There's nothing hidden about that messaging.

I do believe that if you mention Jesus Christ and cite Bible verses on your home page, then you will ping out msgs to those who come from different faith traditions (including, quite possibly, Christians of other denominations) that they aren't necessarily welcomed here. It may even scare off some kids who would be very much at home at Valpo.

I find it a little ironic, given the main purpose of this discussion board (VU sports), that some are pointing to Baylor as an exemplar of a university in the Christian tradition. Obviously those values haven't always ported over to their basketball and football programs, which ironically have given them a lot more national visibility than their academics or religious affiliation. (Unless I've been missing something, VU has -- without chest-thumping fanfare -- run a very ethical sports program.)

As a university, VU faces inherent challenges by trying to achieve a balancing act in many ways: Lutheran & Christian, while open to other faith traditions. Values, liberal arts, career preparation, and community service. Traditional and culturally conservative, without excluding cosmopolitan and liberal ideas. The excitement of DI sports without the ethical downsides. It makes for a harder marketing pitch, because we live in an era where msgs at the extreme carry the day all too often.

FWIW, the VU of my day (77-81) wasn't as balanced, and a lot of us who didn't fit into the mainstream felt excluded at times. That said, I got a lot out of my VU education, and I have returned to the fold as a grateful alum in terms of annual giving, etc. In fact, with the exception of higher tuition -- the scourge of higher education just about everywhere these days -- I'd be much more excited about attending the VU of today than the one I experienced back then.

[valpo64]

Thanks David81 for your up beat comments about the VU of today.  It is nice to hear something on the positive side which often is absent in comments made on this board, no  matter what the topic.

[vu72]

Came across this hysterical article about the college decision process and what kids (and parents) go through.  It also highlights the enrollment scandal presently in the news.  Oh, and one more thing--it was written by a Valpo grad.

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20191012/mark-woods-no-i-didnt-write-my-daughters-college-essay

[valpotx]

Great hire, coming from TCU.  Joining the Big 12 helped during his tenure, but TCU grew their enrollment by quite a bit over the last decade.

[vu84v2]

Came across this hysterical article about the college decision process and what kids (and parents) go through.  It also highlights the enrollment scandal presently in the news.  Oh, and one more thing--it was written by a Valpo grad.

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20191012/mark-woods-no-i-didnt-write-my-daughters-college-essay

A great article! Many highlights, but one of the best is the third reason why he believes he ultimately chose Valpo: "when I visited, I went to a party and had a really good time."

[vu72]

but its recent follies in athletics, facilities projects, and endowment initiatives leave the university in a precarious position moving forward.

What??? 

[valpo64]

Say what??

[crusadermoe]

What 2021 quote "today" are the last two posters referencing?    Was it taken down?