UT Tyler Fall Enrollment Moves University Closer to Goal
September 13, 2001
The fall 2001 semester enrollment at The University of Texas at Tyler has exceeded the university's projections and brings the university closer to its goal of doubling the enrollment within 10 years, President Rodney H. Mabry has announced.
The total headcount, which includes UT Tyler's Longview and Palestine campuses, is 3,755, a 4 percent increase over last year's 3,595. In its master plan, UT Tyler had projected an enrollment of 3,651 for this semester.
"Expanded recruitment territories and increased advertising contributed greatly to our fall enrollment growth. We are now ahead of our ten-year growth projections by more than 100 students. UT Tyler's outstanding faculty members are to be commended for their many contributions to our recruitment efforts," Jim Hutto, dean of enrollment management, said.
The total number of semester credit hours also increased to 36,644 this fall, an 8 percent increase over last year's 33,800.
"Growth is all around us in our enrollment, campus facilities and student life opportunities. The scope of this university continues to broaden to meet the needs of our diverse student body," Mabry added.
UT Tyler's extension campuses also experienced enrollment increases this fall. The enrollment for the UT Tyler Longview University Center, which opened last fall, increased to 342, a 12 percent increase over last fall's 302.
The enrollment at the UT Tyler Palestine Extensions Campus rose to 120, a 19 percent increase over last fall's 97.
Last year the university introduced its strategic plan, "The New Millennium Vision," which includes plans to grow in size to approximately 7,000 students by 2010.
UT Tyler, which began admitting freshman students in 1998, has experienced a gradual increase in the size of its student body since expanding its mission to become a four-year university.
Although expanded to offer a full four-year educational opportunity, UT Tyler continues to place a high priority on addressing the educational needs of transfer students from community and junior colleges and transfer students from other universities, as well as graduate students.
"Mixing older students with traditional students provides an educational advantage to both groups and represents another strength of the university," Mabry said.
UT Tyler has been limited in the number of freshmen it can enroll each academic year; however, the enrollment cap will be removed in fall 2002.
The university is currently implementing an athletics program that will include 13 sports. The university will begin construction this fall on a $20 million Health and Kinesiology Complex that will house classrooms, offices, a gymnasium and convocation area, fitness center, weight room and swimming pool. Plans also include the construction of two soccer fields.
Construction on new nursing and engineering facilities will begin next year.
