Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) achieved record-breaking enrollments this year, with the largest number of students in its 44-year history taking classes this fall.

The number of IUPUC students enrolled for the first semester of the 2014-15 academic year grew 2.9 percent compared to 2013-14 for a total 1783 students. The figures include:

• 1727 undergraduate students
• 56 graduate students
• 19,081 credit hours taught

Beginning and transfer student enrollment for fall 2014 increased by 13.4 percent. This category also saw a 66.7 percent increase in the number of students with 1300+ SAT/ACT, and IUPUC has realized a 33 percent increase in Latino student population enrollments.

Enrollments at IUPUC have grown substantially in recent years, with an overall increase of 9.6 percent between 2009 and 2014.

Marwan Wafa, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor and Dean attributes the growth of enrollment to several factors of relevance including:

• Increased recruitment efforts with, a greater saturation of local and regional markets
• Pronounced focus on student retention and degree completion
• Improved programs targeting newly admitted students through initiatives like the
  First Year Experience, which includes peer mentors, faculty mentors, new student orientation, learning communities, and first-year seminar courses
• More programming that enables first-year students to make friends and become acclimated to campus
• Excitement about the availability of student housing in 2015
• New degree offerings, which now total 11 undergraduate and two graduate degrees

Denise Jennings, Director of the Office of the Registrar Services, Executive Director of Enrollment Management, and Dean of Students shares, “I am very pleased with the growth that we are seeing with the campus this fall! Thanks to the work of many talented people in admissions and recruitment, advising, and other offices that support student success, and in spite of changing demographics that are currently challenging growth of enrollment at many campuses, IUPUC is happy to welcome the largest incoming freshman classes in our history. IUPUC students will have the opportunity to explore travel abroad, internships, research with faculty, and leadership opportunities that one might not expect to find on a campus of our size. I cannot begin to stress enough the value in obtaining an IU or Purdue degree here at the IUPUC campus and the overall positive impact that this institution has had and will continue to have on southern Indiana as a region.”

Helping to keep higher education affordable, IUPUC awarded nearly $600,000 in grants and scholarships to first-year students. The class includes 69 Indiana 21st Century Scholars, which is a 176 percent increase.

For information about IUPUC and its programs, visit iupuc.edu/degree-programs or contact the Office of Recruitment and Admissions at 812.348.7390.