UIU enjoys record enrollment
Fayette, IA (August 31, 2009) – Upper Iowa University fall enrollment reached a near record high on the Fayette campus at 903 students, an 11% increase over 2008 and a 40% increase in the last four years.
“These are impressive numbers that we haven’t seen here in Fayette since the late sixties and early seventies, when incoming students were motivated by a war-time draft,” said Dr. Alan G. Walker, president. “Today, students are choosing Upper Iowa University for all the right reasons—our strong academic reputation, popular degree programs, unique class scheduling, robust financial aid and scholarships, and the only Division II athletics program in the state.”
This year’s fall class saw a total of 328 incoming freshmen and transfer students. A total of 62 international students are also on campus due to a revived ESL program and the revamped international student recruitment plan. These students arrived from 19 different countries from around the world, including China, Nepal, Mongolia, Venezuela, and the United Kingdom, adding to Upper Iowa’s already highly diverse student population at 21%.
Considering all of the challenges private colleges have faced this year, Walker labels this growth extraordinary. He added, “Our goal is to have 1,100 students enrolled on the Fayette campus next fall and with all of the incredible changes taking place right now to make Upper Iowa even better, it is a highly obtainable objective. It would surpass the all-time high enrollment for the Fayette campus set in 1968 when it was 1,091.”
This summer, UIU embarked on a $75 million capital improvement campaign to its Fayette campus, breaking ground on a new state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly Liberal Arts building, student union, and suite-style housing. These buildings are slated to be ready by fall 2010.
Upper Iowa has also seen an increase in academic performance over the past three years, based on recent (CAE) Council for Aid to Education testing. It was identified among the top 25% of colleges and universities nationally for improving students' analytic writing and problem-solving skills, placing above 77% of its testing competitors for enhancing student learning in these vital areas.
“It’s an exciting time here at Upper Iowa as we continue to see the brightest and the best students opt to come here,” said Walker. “I anticipate the Fayette campus will continue to grow, something we are all looking forward to.”
Contact:
Sheila Miller
Director of Publications
Work – 563-425-5326
Cell – 319-610-7108
Fax – 563-425-5701
millers@uiu.edu www.uiu.edu