Fall 2010 enrollment nears record high for CSUEB freshmen
- August 18, 2010
Orientation programs are underway at California State University, East Bay, as the university prepares to welcome almost 2,500 new Pioneers for what's expected to be another record-breaking year for first-time freshmen — even as statewide enrollment at the CSU was capped by recent budget cuts. The university also achieved notable growth in other admission areas, including enrollment in science programs and a high volume of applications for both its undergraduate and graduate programs.
According to Greg Smith, associate vice president for Planning, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, the freshman class headcount may top Fall 2009 numbers. "We'll be very close to last year, which was our largest freshman class ever at 1,444," he said. "We're on track to match or top that."
Final enrollment data will be announced after the start of the fall quarter, but the class targets include 1,300 students from California and the U.S. and approximately 140 international students.
Though the CSU system required all campuses to reduce enrollment targets in 2009 and 2010, for CSUEB that has translated to more of a plateau than a reduction, Smith explained. Overall, student enrollment grew 8 percent in 2008-09, with significant increases in students new to the university. First-time freshmen increased by 20 percent in 2006-07 and then again by 30 percent in 2007-08; undergraduate transfers grew by 7 percent in 2006-07 and 18 percent in 2007-08.
Despite the highly publicized cuts in budget and enrollment to the CSU, CSUEB received a record number of applications for Fall 2010 — almost 17,000, more than 9,000 from high school seniors.
"We are one of the campuses still growing in popularity," Smith said, "although not as fast as before." CSUEB's strategic plan originally called for the university to increase enrollment up to 20,000 students by 2020.
This year's freshman class continues another trend from 2009, Smith added, with increased numbers of students meeting or exceeding the minimum CSU requirements for admission. Because the applicant pool overall has more qualified students, he explained, the university is able to admit a class of students who are better prepared for college success.
Cal State East Bay will also welcome more than 1,000 transfer students this fall, said Amanda Segura, director of enrollment development. The university now only accepts applications from upper division students, a change from previous policy that has led to a reduction in the number of transfer students entering CSUEB each year.
"Our biggest feeder community colleges continue to be our local partners in Alameda and Contra Costa counties," Segura said. In 2008, 920 students transferred from institutions in those areas, representing more than 44 percent of all new transfer students, she said.
As many as 70 percent of entering freshmen also come from the university's local draw areas. But Segura said CSUEB has worked to increase the number of new freshmen students from other parts of the state; the Central Valley grew by 88 percent from 2007-08 and other California counties grew by 36 percent overall.
"Our freshman classes are generally more diverse geographically," said Smith. "It's a great experience for local students to be in a class with someone from Southern California or the Central Valley."
Mirroring the university's growth in enrollment over the past few years, the College of Science 2008 overall annual enrollment grew the most, 18 percent, twice the previous year's growth rate. Segura noted that most of that increase was in graduate programs. The College of Education and Allied Studies saw the most growth in undergraduate programs with a 20 percent increase.
Also in 2008, enrollment in the College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences grew by 9 percent and the College of Business and Economics overall experienced a growth rate of 5 percent in 2008 compared to no growth the year before in either college.
Graduate student enrollment will remain the same as last year, with about 600 new domestic graduate students, according to Smith. As in previous years, they will be joined by approximately 260 international graduate students. Estimated graduate enrollment numbers do not include students enrolling in certificate or post-baccalaureate programs through the Division of Continuing and International Education.
Segura said the university has seen an increase in graduate applications, however, which she attributes to the slow economy. "People aren't working, so they think about coming back to school, getting a new degree," she said.
In August, the university will also accept transfer applications for Spring 2011. Last year, all CSUs closed spring admissions, but the state budget currently under consideration includes funding for additional CSU enrollment. According to Segura, if the budget is passed soon, Cal State East Bay will be able to admit up to 1,000 more transfer students for the spring quarter.
If the budget is rejected or does not including that funding, students who have applied for spring will be able to amend their application to be considered for Fall 2011 or withdraw it and receive a refund of their application fee.
Looking to Fall 2011, the application period begins in October and will stay open at least into December. Smith said the university expects a fairly consistent number of applicants from both first-time freshmen and transfer students. Effective Fall 2011, however, the transfer program will be officially declared "impacted." Under impaction, only upper division transfers meeting all requirements and deadlines will be considered for admission, and some categories of transfer applicants may have to meet standards higher than minimum CSU eligibility.
Although it is not certain when the university will have the budget to resume its plans to increase enrollment, Smith said CSUEB is still sending a positive message to aspiring Pioneers.
"There is a place for you here," he said. "Maybe not during the first term you wanted to be here, but if you meet the requirements, you can come to Cal State East Bay and get a great education."