Upper Iowa University sees enrollment growth for 7th consecutive year spurred by increases at Fayette and internationally
FAYETTE, Iowa (September 6, 2011) — Overall enrollment at Upper Iowa University has climbed again for the 7th consecutive year, according to numbers for Fall 2011-12. The increases are led by a Fayette campus enrollment, which is just 1 off the1,000-mark, and a jump in the number of international students both at the Fayette campus and at the UIU centers in Asia, said UIU President Alan G. Walker.
As of census day, the total headcount university-wide is 6,822. Of that, 999 are students at the Fayette campus, which includes 36 students enrolled in the non-degree-seeking English as a Second Language program. This is a 5.25 percent increase on the UIU primary campus since last fall, and a 48 percent increase since 2005. Among the Fayette students are 101 international students from 26 nations, which is a 77 percent increase from a year ago and a 10-fold increase from four years ago. The UIU sites in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore also experienced increases with an enrollment of 1,073, which is a 4.8 percent increase over last fall.
"I am especially pleased by the strong increase we continue to see in the Fayette headcount," said UIU President Walker. "There was a time in the 1980s when this campus was down below 300 and we were struggling. We have blown those numbers away and shown that Upper Iowa University is providing a quality education that students want."
"At a time when the economy is still struggling and many other universities are dealing with cutbacks, UIU is experiencing its largest incoming class since 1996," said Walker. "In addition, this group of new students on campus is among the most geographically diverse that we've ever had. We have become a preferred destination point recognized by prospective students and their parents throughout the Midwest, with 34 percent of the class coming from states outside of Iowa, and nearly 8 percent coming from a country outside of the United States."
"We know these are tough times for many students and their families, and we are grateful that so many are turning to UIU to invest in higher education to help make a difference in their future. Our new facilities, academic quality, and aggressive financial assistance offer the value that so many families are seeking," Walker added.
Nearly two-thirds of UIU students are considered non-traditional, or over the age of 25. UIU has seen a 5.6 percent climb this year in the number of graduate students, now at 487. Nearly 11.5 percent of all UIU students are veterans or active members of the military and their families; and 7.5 percent of students are simultaneously enrolled in UIU courses through a combination of multiple modalities – on site, online, or through independent study.
"We are pleased to see students are taking advantage of UIU's flexibility by combining modalities or moving from one modality to another as their personal circumstances change so that they earn their degree from UIU without losing a beat," said Melik Peter Khoury, senior vice president. "Our variety of modalities and our enrollment flexibility allow students to enroll at any time throughout the year and to move easily from one modality to another. This unique combination of offerings provides non-traditional, adult students with the opportunity to earn a college degree or to retrain without giving up their jobs or their other family and professional commitments. Our flexibility is especially attractive to students who are serving in the military because they can continue their education no matter where they are serving."
Citing UIU's unique academic structure that offers six eight-week enrollment periods each year, Khoury said the University will see an estimated 2,300 more students enroll before the end of the academic year.
Contact:
Monica Bayer Heaton
Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
Phone: 563-425-5773
Cell: 515-291-2070
heatonm@uiu.edu
About Upper Iowa University
Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs and leadership development opportunities to nearly 6,800 students—nationally and internationally—at its Fayette campus and learning centers worldwide. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and independent study. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.