UWG News Archive

Fall Enrollment Report

November 5, 2004

CARROLLTON, GA - Undergraduate enrollment at the University of West Georgia increased 3 percent this year from 2003, according to figures released by the UWG Registrar’s Office.

In the Fall 2004 semester, freshman enrollment increased by 53 students, juniors by 106 and seniors by 33. The sophomore class did not change. Overall, there are 191 more undergraduate students, an increase that was expected by University officials.

According to the UWG Term Enrollment Report, total enrollment at the University is 10, 219. Of that total, 36 percent are male and 64 percent female. Broken down by ethnicity, enrollment at UWG includes 22.56 percent African-Americans, 1.4 percent Asian, 1.2 percent Hispanic, and 72.1 percent Caucasian.

More than 96 percent of students enrolled are from Georgia and UWG boasts students who are from more than 60 international countries.

Students enrolled at UWG this fall had to meet increased admissions requirements, a combination of high school grade point averages (GPA) and admissions tests such as the SAT. The increased standards were supported by UWG President Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna and approved by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents this past spring.

The Freshman Index is a formula used by UWG in admitting students by multiplying the high school academic GPA by 500 and then adding the total SAT score.

The Freshman Index was raised from 1,940 to 2,050. Under the old admission formula, for example, a student who had a GPA of 2.2, a SAT Math score of 400 and a SAT Verbal score of 430 (for a total of 830) would have just made the cut at UWG. Under the new standards, a student with the same GPA of 2.2, would need to raise his or her SAT score by 110 points.

“The significance of a large increase in admission standards cannot be overemphasized. In spite of this very significant increase in admission standards, our undergraduate enrollment increased by 234 students or almost 3 percent,” Sethna pointed out. “ That is outstanding. This increase was due to increased admissions and increased retention — both of which demonstrate excellent performance by UWG.”

Graduate enrollment at UWG was down by 13.5 percent to an enrollment to 1,937 from 2,210 students in 2003. Dean of the Graduate School Dr. Jack O. Jenkins said that part of the reason for lower numbers could be attributed to a stronger economy. Jenkins noted that while graduate enrollment was down, applications to UWG’s graduate school were up from 2003.

“I believe that some students originally decided to come to graduate school because of fewer job opportunities due to a sluggish economy,” Jenkins pointed out. “However, as the economy improved, some students may have declined to seriously pursue the application process.”

Although UWG’s total enrollment was down by less than .04 percent, Sethna said credit hours increased relative to last year, setting a new record in credit hours generated.

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