Spring enrollment good news despite gloomy economy
FAYETTE, Iowa (January 26, 2009) - The Upper Iowa Fayette campus set another enrollment record, reporting numbers just shy of 800 students for spring 2009. The official count from the Registrar is 778, representing a 7.5 percent increase over spring 2008. 
UIU President Alan G. Walker credits a combination of hard work by faculty and staff, especially in the area of retention initiatives and strategic planning. He noted the numbers reveal increased enrollment specifically in international students on the Fayette campus, the revived RN-BSN program, and the new Master of Education program.
Walker added, "There is also a great deal of excitement over the plans we have to invest $60 million on the Fayette campus in new capital construction projects starting this spring."
"This is the highest spring enrollment reported in ten years and on record," said Walker. "This will definitely bode well towards reaching our goal of 900 students on the Fayette campus this fall, which is particularly encouraging at a time when daily news about the economy seems to only get worse."
"People are looking for greater value for the investment they make in higher education and they find that at Upper Iowa, which helps to explain why enrollment on the Fayette campus has increased over 20% in the last four years even though there is a declining number of high school students in the Midwest".
Walker also recognized that Upper Iowa students graduate with less debt compared to other Iowa private and public institutions four-year institutions.
"In today's tight economy," added Walker. "Upper Iowa continues to be aggressive in aiding students in areas of financial aid and in academic or merit scholarships available."
Contact:
Sheila Miller
Director of Public Relations
Work - 563-425-5326
Cell - 319-610-7108
Fax - 563-425-5701
millers@uiu.edu
www.uiu.edu