Newman University officials have released enrollment figures for the fall 2010 semester, which show that the number of students at Newman this year is the highest in school history.
According to the official federal enrollment report following the 20th day of fall classes, 2,746 students are enrolled for the fall semester, 189 more than the previous school record of 2,557 in fall 2009, a 7.4 percent increase over last year. Also up from last fall is full-time equivalency (FTE), reaching 1,890 over last year’s 1,746, an increase of 8.2 percent. The total number of credit hours offered for fall 2010 showed the largest gain, at 25,177 compared to last year’s 23,158, or an increase of 8.7 percent.
“We have worked hard to communicate the message that Newman University is an affordable option for higher education in Kansas,” said Noreen M. Carrocci, Ph.D., Newman University president. “We’ve improved scholarship packages, increased our program offerings, and really looked at flexibility and convenience for students by expanding our online offerings. For example, we were notified recently that our new RN to BSN and Business Studies programs have been approved by the Higher Learning Commission as online programs.”
John Clayton, Newman University dean of Admissions, said all of these changes have helped place Newman higher on the list of choices for students. “Then, once prospective students tour and see our campus and small class sizes, they know they can be successful here,” Clayton added.
A snapshot of the university based on demographic information shows that 185 first-time, full-time freshman students are walking the halls, along with 250 students who transferred to Newman this year. Of all students, 1,786, or 65 percent, are female, and 960, about 35 percent, are male. The report also shows that full-time students, or those taking a minimum of 12 credit hours a semester, number 1,260, with the remaining 1,486 classified as part-time. About one in four Newman students is married, and about 40 percent are Catholic. In all, students enrolled this fall represent 25 different states and 27 foreign countries.
