Eastern Michigan University sees growth in number of students, credit hours
Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin is optimistic the university can sustain its recent enrollment growth in coming years even if EMU raises its tuition next year.
“I don’t think any tuition increases will turn people off to (EMU),” she said in a telephone interview Friday afternoon. “We’ve got real positive momentum and I think we’re going to hold onto our growth.”
Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin.
File photo | AnnArbor.com
That includes a 2.74 percent growth in the number of students enrolled for the winter semester, compared to the same semester last year. The university has 22,159 students enrolled as of the middle of January.
There’s also been a nearly 2 percent increase in the number of credit hours students are taking compared to the same time last year.
Martin credits that growth to the school’s “zero, zero, zero” campaign, which included no increase in tuition, fees or room and board for this school year.
However, the growth is short of the 3.4 percent growth in credit hours EMU projected it would have in its budget for this year.
Martin said university officials have been looking at the budget for areas of savings to make up any budget shortfall.
“If we can find the nickels and dimes, hopefully that will add up,” she said, adding that the university will see some savings from the budgeted unit price on natural gas versus what it is actually paying.
“We’ve asked everyone to take a look and see where there’s savings,” she said.
EMU officials are optimistic about future enrollment.
Martin pointed out that applications for next year from prospective freshmen are nearly double the number the university had received at this point last year, and applications from transfer students have increased by 31 percent.
"Our application gains reflect Eastern's appeal to a broad range of students at various points in their lives and careers," said Bernice Lindke, EMU's vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, in a press release. "We are seeing spikes in the numbers of applications from entering freshmen, from new transfers and from graduate students. Staff members have been working hard to keep up with the processing."
Martin said no decision has been made on tuition for next year.
She said she hopes to sit down the with Board of Regents in a retreat in the near future to talk about the state’s economy, the budget for next year and other related issues.
“One of the big things we’re going to have to deal with is what’s going to happen to our state appropriation,” she said, adding they hope to know more in February. “That’s a key piece of our planning.”
David Jesse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.
Comments
eagleman
Wed, Feb 2, 2011 : 7:14 p.m.
Last I checked, 38% of freshmen graduate within 6 years at EMU. That is an older statistic, but I don't see it being much different.
Joey B
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 11:24 p.m.
Steve - well if you teach at EMU than maybe you can show the graduation rate for incoming freshman. I never said "anything goes" policy and it wasn't just for athletes. I also never said agreement with DPS either just an admittance "policy" to let those kids in that graduate. Besides Ferris State, EMU has the most lax admittance guidelines and I don't have a problem with at all! I just don't like the school bragging about enrollment going up when they will let stundents in that most schools wouldn't. I believe every student deserves a education just tell the facts WHY your enrollment is going up and show how many studenst they accept as freshman actually graduate.
Jcross
Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 11:01 a.m.
I don't know what ferris state's admissions requirements are but according to the stats emu admits around 73 percent of applicants which is about the same as emu and western. Eastern actually has a lot of good things going for it that would make it attractive to a prospective student. Emu has some very good academic programs and a beautiful campus, maybe that helps with raising enrollment.
Steve Krause
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 1:54 p.m.
As someone who actually teaches at EMU (as opposed to working in "sports"): Eastern is not quite an "open admissions" university, but it is certainly an "opportunity-granting" one in that it welcomes a lot of students who wouldn't have a chance at a higher education at more competitively enrolled universities like U of Michigan or Michigan State. However, that doesn't mean "anything goes," and I know that it is possible to be not admitted to EMU based on poor high school grades and/or poor ACT/SAT scores. And this is also not some sort of unique agreement with Detroit Public Schools, either. I'd also point out that EMU is far from the only "not selective" state university in Michigan. The admission standards at Wayne, Central, Ferris, Grand Valley, Western, etc., are not far off from EMU.
Joey B
Sun, Jan 30, 2011 : 3:23 a.m.
Lumburg - I was talking about admission overall - not just for athletes. If you are disputing me than show me their admission policies and if you all don't believe me, call and ask about their acceptance requirements - why would I make this up. This guy told me they will take anyone from DPS that graduates (non athletes)- doesnt matter their ACT score. I asked about the 16 score and he said definately! I want to know the graduation rates at EMU for incoming freshman compared to all the other D1 schools just in this state... It has to be on eif the lowest ine the MAC!
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 11:18 p.m.
"If we really want to see state schools "tighten their belts" then reward them for doing so, instead of punishing them!" Agree completely, Cash!! Good Night and Good Luck
Ryan Munson
Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 7:01 p.m.
I didn't have any problem signing up for two courses this winter where one is a prerequisite. I am surprised there weren't any hoops to jump through. I would be surprised if there are not major cuts to education forthcoming.
Joey B
Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 1:14 p.m.
I had a converstaion with a employee with the sports dept. at EMU over christmas and he told me their policy is to let any kid from DPS school system in as long as they graduate. He said their ACT didn't matter to much. He also said they were hurting bad for students so I wonder how bad the requirements are, as a whole, to get into EMU? These numbers might be completely skewed, as to how many of these students make it past thier sophomore year at Easten since enrollling the last 6 to 8 years?
lumberg48108
Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 9:40 p.m.
You had a conversation with someone in the sports department and this is to be taken as fact? Unless you can directly quote a person from admissions this is meaningless. Of course athletics might have its own standards but get your facts from the admissions department - or don't get online and spread hearsay ....
Cash
Sat, Jan 29, 2011 : 12:39 p.m.
Next year's budget is going to be "interesting". Will the state give EMU any credit for holding the line at 0% last year? They didn't give them credit when the allotment for building came up this fall. Will they give them credit when it comes to funding this year's budget? I hope taxpayers remind their representatives that we appreciate that EMU held the line last year and wish that we could see the state recognize their sacrifice.....and award dollars accordingly. That might encourage other state schools to follow suit. If we really want to see state schools "tighten their belts" then reward them for doing so, instead of punishing them!