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August 2008
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CAMPUS NEWS |
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This month, the university is expecting approximately 1,575 first-year students to become part of the AU family – the largest freshman enrollment in our history. The Class of 2012, which represents an 18 percent increase in enrollment from last fall, will also join record numbers of returning undergraduate and new graduate students this academic year. Admission to AU this fall was tougher than ever, said acting Assistant Provost Sharon Alston. In total, 15,430 students applied, and AU accepted only 54 percent of them – a 19 percent increase in selectivity since 2000. And with a collective GPA of 3.8 – up from 3.53 in 2007 – and an SAT average of 1266, the Class of 2012 is the most competitive to date. “The groundswell of talented students choosing American is the result of its natural academic strengths and location in an historic election year, enhancement of first-year and interdisciplinary programs… and new enrollment marketing initiatives,” Alston said, noting that AU’s admissions advertisements even won an award from the American Marketing Association this fall. Sen. Barack Obama’s, speech in Bender Arena last spring and the men’s basketball team’s NCAA March Madness trip further contributed to the record enrollment rate, Alston added. New Students, New Resources According to President Neil Kerwin, SPA/BA ‘71, the incoming Class of 2012 has presented the university with a few logistical challenges. AU must add more courses, create more dorm space, and offer new advising resources to balance the demands of new students with returning students. However, it is nothing AU isn’t prepared to handle, Kerwin said in a recent message to AU. Already, the university has revisited classes freshmen take the most, starting with its General Education program. “We have been reviewing enrollment patterns and are working with departments to offer additional sections of a number of General Education courses next year,” said the program’s director. “Our goal is always to make sure that students have options available to them in every General Education area.” In addition, AU hopes to add about 10 sections (as well as three full-time and 10-12 part-time faculty members) to its College Writing program, an introductory English class that all freshmen must satisfy, according to the program’s coordinator. “These steps are just the beginning,” wrote Kerwin in his message to the university. “Our new strategic plan will deliberately consider and identify future enrollment targets… so that we can replicate our success in future years.” -Tony Romm '09
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Incoming Class of 2012 Shatters University Records