The number of University of Toledo undergraduate students continuing their studies into the spring semester increased more than 2 percentage points over last year helping to keep enrollment on par with the previous year.
Total enrollment for spring semester 2016 is 18,849, according to official 15-day census numbers. UT had 18,783 students enrolled in spring semester 2015.
The fall to spring semester undergraduate retention numbers for the 2015-16 academic year increased to 89.1 percent from 87 percent the previous year. The trend follows a nearly 2 percent increase in the first-year to second-year undergraduate retention rate recorded in the fall semester.
“As the University develops a strategic enrollment plan to grow our student body, we intend to continue this momentum to both recruit and retain more UT students,” President Sharon L. Gaber said. “Every member of the UT faculty and staff is committed to the success of our students to ensure that they succeed in their studies and graduate on time. We will continue to see the enrollment numbers reflect that commitment.”
UT engaged enrollment consultant Ruffalo Noel Levitz in the fall to begin working to increase student populations across the institution.
Through the additional outreach to potential students currently underway that is more personalized, customized and timely, UT leaders are optimistic the University will end the recent trend of enrollment declines by the upcoming fall semester, and hopefully begin a trend of increased enrollment next academic year, said Jim Mager, interim vice president for enrollment management.
“The quality of the admission and financial aid staff, advisers, success coaches, faculty and staff at UT is outstanding, and everyone is committed to student success,” Mager said. “Spring enrollment is what we predicted given fall enrollment numbers, but the outreach efforts of these dedicated individuals is already having an impact on the number of students attending UT, and we will continue to see that grow.”
Long-term strategies also are being developed to position UT to continue to grow enrollment in subsequent years, he said.
The spring 2016 enrollment includes 14,679 undergraduate students, an increase from 14,478 in spring 2015, and 4,170 graduate students, a decrease from 4,305 in the same semester last year. Contributing to the growth in undergraduate students is an increase in the number of high school students participating in the College Credit Plus program.
