Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821

September 17, 2002 UNM FALL ENROLLMENT UP MORE THAN 3.5 PERCENT Fall semester enrollment at the University of New Mexico is up 3.55 percent compared to a year ago, according to the Official 2002 Fall Enrollment Report. As of the Sept. 6 census date, 24,705 students were attending UNM’s main campus, compared with 23,859 last year, making it the largest fall enrollment total since fall 1999. The record fall enrollment occurred in fall 1993, with more than 25,000 students were enrolled. A significant increase in beginning freshmen enrollment was also recorded. Beginning freshmen enrollment surged to 2,821 students, up 17.3 percent compared with last fall, while beginning freshmen retention to the third semester (fall-to-fall) is 75.8 percent. The beginning freshmen enrollment figure is the largest since 1975 when 2,831 students were enrolled. University officials believe the increase in beginning freshmen this fall is due in part to several factors including a lower GPA for UNM’s Bridge to Success Scholarship from 3.0 to 2.5, which was the original required GPA when the scholarship began, and an increased focus on freshmen learning opportunities and students taking advantage of those programs. Other factors include a shaky job market, more undergraduate transfers and a slight increase in non-resident students. Another notable increase, according to Office of Academic Affairs, came in the area of evening and weekend enrollment with a credit hour increase of 14.4 percent or 52,947 credit hours reported. Last fall evening and weekend credit hours totaled 46,296. “That’s a startling increase and that tell us there is something going on in the local and state economy that’s bringing students in to enhance their credentials and we’re happy to have them,” said David Stuart, associate provost, Academic Affairs, in regard to the evening and weekend credit hours. “The big story is the stagnant economy and we’re seeing that in the enrollment numbers of evening and weekend students.” The official enrollment report also showed: • Head count is up for most enrollment categories. • Graduate programs head count is up 3.7 percent compared to the previous year, from 3,922 in 2001 to 4,070 in 2002. • Minority enrollment increased over all ethnic categories to 40.1 percent from 39.2 percent in 2001. Overall minority enrollment this year is 5.63 percent American Indian; 2.37 percent Black; 3.53 percent Asian; and 28.59 percent Hispanic. • Undergraduate transfers were up to 992 from 941 in 2001, an increase of more than five percent. • The overall branch head count increased 14.56 percent from 6,189 in 2001 to 7,090 in 2002. All branch campuses showed an overall head count increase compared with last fall. Enrollment at the branches last fall compared with this fall include: Gallup Branch, 2,515 in 2001 and 2,858 in 2002; Los Alamos Branch, 883 in 2001 and 890 in 2002; Valencia Branch, 1,560 in 2001 and 1,710 in 2002; and the Taos Branch, 1,231 in 2001 and 1,632 in 2002. # # #

The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981