UWG News Archive

Fall Enrollment

September 24, 2003

CARROLLTON, GA - A record enrollment of more than 10,000 at the University of West Georgia for Fall 2003 marks a watershed event in the history of the University, according to Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna, UWG president.

Although headcount reports are not final and the numbers will continue to increase over the next several weeks, the September 23 total of 10,252 represents an increase of 577 students over last fall’s 9,675, according to Bonnie Stevens, registrar.

Summer ’03 enrollment of 5,060 was up from the ’02 number of 4,526. This represented almost a 12 percent increase in headcount enrollment for the four summer sessions.

“We continue to grow in stature and in numbers,” Sethna said. “Increased enrollment is good because of at least three reasons: we are educating the region, we are enhancing our reputation, and we are garnering additional revenue for the institution.”

Sethna explained each positive aspect of enrollment growth.

“We are helping educate the region — a region that has one of the lowest educational attainment levels in the state,” he said. “With Georgia being one of the low attainment states in the nation, we cannot be in the business of turning away qualified students. Our region has a long way to go, and it is our duty to help educate Georgia.”

Sethna noted that Dr. Thomas C. Meredith, chancellor of the University System of Georgia (USG), has made it clear that limitations on enrollment are not in the best interest of the state or the USG.

“Increased enrollment is an indication of students and parents being attracted to this great place,” Sethna said in reference to the second benefit of growth. “It is the equivalent of investor confidence, and is a just tribute to the excellent work of our faculty and staff.”

Additional revenue is a third positive result of enrollment growth.

“Both tuition revenue in the immediate term, and state allocations through formula allocations two years from now are a financial shot in the arm,” Sethna noted. “This increased revenue is what we need to reduce the negative impact of the current budget cuts.”

A very real challenge for West Georgia and other institutions in the USG is balancing the growth in enrollments with state appropriations that continue to shrink.

Sethna noted that last year, UWG had a budget decrease of approximately 10 percent and a student increase of 7 percent. On top of the current decrease, there are reliable reports of an additional 2.5 percent cut for this fiscal year and a 7.5 percent for next year (relative to today's budget, or 17.5% relative to the last full year).

West Georgia is engaged in serious planning efforts to deal with growth issues ranging from enrollment management to facility utilization. The University is updating its Facilities Master Plan, and recent studies indicate that UWG has used 80 percent of its available land and will need four more academic buildings the size of the new Technology-enhanced Learning Center in the foreseeable future to keep up with projected growth.

Students are seeing an immediate response to growth this fall with the beginning of construction on the new 612-bed residence hall complex in August. The privatized student housing complex will consist of three four-story residence halls plus a community building. The complex will be located in the area of Pritchard Hall, which will be demolished following the construction of the three residence halls.

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