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Februrary 2001
by Dr. John W. Bardo -- jbardo@wpoff.wcu.edu
I hope that your semester has started well and that you are
finding this to be a productive time. There are a number of
issues that I need to update you on, including enrollment
and construction progress.
SPRING ENROLLMENT
This spring, we have 171 more headcount students than we
had last year. We have increased enrollment both of undergraduate
and graduate students. At the undergraduate level, the increase
in the number of students is associated with an increase in
semester credit hours, but at the graduate level the number
of credit hours decreased. The largest decreases in enrollment
at the graduate level were in education, physical therapy
and nursing. The greatest growth was in business. There seems
to be an increasing move to part-time students at the graduate
level.
Most of the increase in spring enrollment seems to be due
to improvements in enrollment for fall semester. Retention
rates are only slightly better this year than last. Overall
retention rates increased from 87 percent last year to 87.9
percent this year; however, we still have a great deal of
work to do with regard to retention. The Office of University
Planning has just completed an assessment of one of our retention
efforts, the Learning Community Program, from last fall (see
www.wcu.edu/stratplan/Assessment/Assessment.htm). There are
some interesting findings:
- Learning community students were predominantly male
and their academic preparation was somewhat less than
that of the typical freshman. Males and less well-prepared
students tend to have lower persistence rates than
other students.
- Learning community students and non-learning community
students had the same average GPA in the fall semester.
- Approximately 91 percent of learning community students
returned for the second semester, compared to 87 percent
of non-learning community students.
- The persistence rate for the Honors College was
94 percent, compared to 91 percent last year. This
year's learning community had a retention rate, therefore,
approaching that of the Honors College.
The assessment report also highlights some difficulties
with the Learning Community Program as it is currently structured.
Fred Hinson is working with the Liberal Studies Committee
and faculty who have taught in learning communities to examine
the program and try to solve some of its problems. It appears,
however, that the program is beginning to realize some of
its goals. Thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to put
this program together.
APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2001
Applications for next fall continue at a strong pace. We
are up in the number of applications and in the number of
tuition deposits compared to the same time last year. At the
same time, the quality of the students continues to improve.
If current trends continue, we should see a class that is
at least as large as this year's, and the average SAT and
GPA should increase. One major change in process that has
been initiated this year involves the awarding of merit-based
scholarships. Whenever possible, scholarship awards are included
with the acceptance letter. This, coupled with the continued
improvement in the quality of applications, has resulted in
a very significant increase in the number of academic scholarships
being offered to students.
NATIONAL MERIT PROGRAM
Interest in the National Merit Scholars Program at Western
has continued to increase. According to the latest national
data, Western is second in North Carolina in the number of
National Merit Scholars (there were six) enrolled in the freshman
class (after UNC-CH). There were more National Merit Scholars
in this class than there were at Davidson, Wake Forest, or
NC State. For next year, the admissions office already has
received applications from more National Merit Semifinalists
than applied last year.
CONSTRUCTION
As of this writing, the Labor Force Development Center was
released by the state for bid. We anticipate the bid opening
to be February 28. We hope that the Fine and Performing Arts
Center and the University Center addition will be released
for bid and construction this spring. We also are in the process
of hiring architects for the Bird and Killian Annex projects
and the McKee classroom renovations and in designing the first
new residence hall. It is anticipated that construction of
the residence hall will begin in late 2001 or early 2002.
To celebrate the beginning of these long-awaited projects,
we will have an "official groundbreaking" for the
Fine and Performing Arts Center on March 8. Further information
will be forthcoming. Please plan to attend.
We also are in the midst of completing renovation of the
University Outreach Center buildings. It is anticipated that
this work should continue through the fall semester of 2001.
The buildings should be ready for occupancy in the spring
of 2002. As you may recall, a childcare center is included
in this renovation. Bob Caruso's office will have further
information available on this program as we get closer to
beginning operation. Assuming that the construction of the
building proceeds as expected, it is most likely that the
childcare center will become operational for the spring semester
2002.
As we begin construction on these projects, please be aware
that they will cause many physical changes on campus. Fences
will be erected in some very visible places, and large-scale
construction brings with it a great deal of dirt and some
inconvenience. We will try to keep everyone informed as things
progress. This campus has not seen construction of anywhere
near this magnitude since the four-lane was built. Please
bear with us as these construction projects get under way.
FACULTY SENATE RESTRUCTURING
Over the last several years, committees have reworked much
of the University governance system. The last part of that
system to be addressed is the Faculty Senate. This is a very
important activity and I hope that you will let Casey Hurley
know your opinion of what should happen in restructuring.
Although I am not participating in the restructuring discussions,
I want to make it clear that I strongly support the initial
directions of the committee members. They are considering
simplifying the Senate's processes and reconstituting the
Senate as a smaller, faculty-only body. I think this is a
very important change in organization that can promote discussion
and debate among faculty members while strengthening the role
of faculty members in governance. Please attend at least one
of the open discussions on faculty governance and the structure
of the Senate (February 21 and 22 at 3 p.m. in Killian 104).
There are some very important decisions being made that will
have real impact on the future of this University.
Again, I hope you have a productive and interesting spring
semester.
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