Online Education Grows by Almost One Million Students; Eighth Annual Sloan Survey of Online Education Shows Economy Still Driving Growth

/PRNewswire --The 2010 Sloan Survey of Online Learning reveals that enrollment rose by almost one million students from a year earlier.

The survey of more than 2,500 colleges and universities nationwide finds approximately 5.6 million students were enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2009, the most recent term for which figures are available.

"This represents the largest ever year-to-year increase in the number of students studying online," said study co-author I. Elaine Allen, Co-Director of the Babson Survey Research Group and Professor of Statistics & Entrepreneurship at Babson College. "Nearly 30% of all college and university students now take at least one course online."

She adds: "There may be some clouds on the horizon. While the sluggish economy continues to drive enrollment growth, large public institutions are feeling budget pressure and competition from the for-profit sector institutions. In addition, the for-profit schools worry new federal rules on financial aid and student recruiting may have a negative impact on enrollments."

Other findings:

* Almost two-thirds of for-profit institutions now say that online learning is a critical part of their long term strategy.
* The 21% growth rate for online enrollments far exceeds the 2% growth in the overall higher education student population.
* Nearly one-half of institutions report that the economic downturn has increased demand for face-to-face courses and programs.
* Three-quarters of institutions report that the economic downturn has increased demand for online courses and programs.

The eighth annual survey, a collaborative effort between the Babson Survey Research Group and the College Board, is the leading barometer of online learning in the United States. The survey is funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and distributed by the Sloan Consortium. The complete survey report, Class Differences: Online Education in the United States, 2010, is available on the Sloan Consortium Web site, www.sloanconsortium.org. The report includes a detailed analysis of the factors driving the growth in online education.

The Babson Survey Research Group in the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurial Research at Babson College conducts regional, national, and international research projects, including survey design, sampling methodology, data integrity, statistical analyses and reporting. http://www3.babson.edu/ESHIP/research-publications/survey-research-group.cfm

The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 5,700 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities, and concerns. Visit www.collegeboard.org.

The Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C) is an institutional and professional leadership organization dedicated to integrating online education into the mainstream of higher education, helping institutions and individual educators improve the quality, scale, and breadth of online education. Visit www.sloanconsortium.org.

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University System Enrolls a Record 311,442 Students

The University System of Georgia’s (USG) fall 2010 enrollment has climbed to 311,442 students, yet another record high. That’s an increase of 9,550 students, or 3.2 percent, over the fall 2009 enrollment, which at the time was the record.

USG Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. announced the figures today, as the System released its 2010 Fall Enrollment Report. The report provides data on enrollment by institution, by gender, by race and ethnicity, and breaks down students by class (freshmen, sophomore, etc.) and in-state/out-of-state.

“Individuals continue to seek out the opportunity that higher education uniquely offers,” said Davis. “We must bear this in mind as we continue to be challenged by budgets and shrinking state resources.”

Since fall 2006, enrollment in the System’s 35 degree-granting colleges and universities has risen every year, adding 51,497 students, a 19.8 percent increase over the past five years. “This is the equivalent of adding all of our eight two year colleges and one state college (Middle Georgia College) to our system in terms of the raw numbers,” Davis said.

While this year’s increase of 3.2 percent is smaller than the 6.7 percent jump (18,914 students) from fall 2008 to fall 2009, it tracks the annual percentage increases seen over recent years: 2.5 percent from fall 2005 to fall 2006, 3.9 percent from fall 2006 to fall 2007; and 4.8 percent from fall 2007 to fall 2008. The average percentage increase over the 2006-2010 period is almost 4 percent.

Six USG institutions saw double-digit growth this fall:

Leading the pack – as it did last fall – is Georgia Gwinnett College, with an increase of 82.6 percent, or 2,433 students, to 5,380 students enrolled this fall.

Atlanta Metropolitan College, 13 percent, to 3,037 students.

College of Coastal Georgia, 11.6 percent, to 3,438 students.

East Georgia College, 11.2 percent, to 3,063 students.

South Georgia College, 10.7 percent, to 2,214 students.

Gordon College, 10.2 percent, to 5,009 students.

By sector, the four research universities (Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, Medical College of Georgia and the University of Georgia) saw an average increase of 1.4 percent.

The two regional universities (Georgia Southern University and Valdosta State University) grew an average of 3.5 percent and the 13 state universities were slightly below this, at 2.5 percent growth.

The eight state colleges saw an average enrollment increase of 7.9 percent – which was the largest percentage jump by sector. The eight two-year colleges posted a 3.5 percent increase.

This year’s enrollment report shows that by sector the four research universities comprise 28.4 percent of fall enrollment; the regionals have 10.1 percent and the state universities have 30.7 percent..

The access colleges have 27.7 percent of enrollment – 12.4 percent at state colleges and 15.3 percent at the two-year colleges. Yet 29 percent of total access enrollment – 25,113 students – is concentrated in just one institution: Georgia Perimeter College.

“We must continue our efforts – as set forth in the Board’s Strategic Plan – to shift more of our enrollment to our access institutions,” noted Davis. “These institutions are where we have the capacity at a lower cost of instruction than at our research universities to continue to meet growing enrollment during a time of declining state resources.”

Minority students continued to enroll at a higher percentage rate than the overall student population in fall 2010.

The biggest percentage growth came in Hispanic enrollment, which jumped 14.5 percent, or 1,847 students, from fall 2009 to fall 2010. Total Hispanic enrollment is now at 12,734, or 4.7 percent of total enrollment. In 2009, Hispanic enrollment was 4.2 percent of all students.

Enrollment growth by Asian students increased 6.5 percent, or 979 students, from fall 2009 to fall 2010. Asian enrollment for fall 2010 stands at 20,235 students, or 6.4 percent of total enrollment.

The System’s African-American enrollment increased from fall 2009 to fall 2010 by 5.1 percent, or 4,130 students. Total System African-American enrollment now stands at 84,106, or 27 percent of all students.

Looking at gender, females make up 57.5 percent of total enrollment. This percentage is down from last year, by exactly point one-tenth of a percent. This fall there are 179,031 females and 132,409 males enrolled in the USG.

First-time freshmen students total 49,368 in fall 2010, an increase of just 211 students, or .4 percent.

Georgia residents comprise 89.9 percent, or 280,021 students, of the USG’s total enrollment.

The system’s full-time equivalent enrollment (FTE) for fall 2010 is 276,111, an increase of 3.6 percent over fall 2009, adding 9,536 students. The increase in FTE enrollment means that more students are taking additional hours of courses, compared to students in fall 2009.


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Students of All Ages Throng to Community Colleges in Economic Downturn

/PRNewswire/ -- Enrollments at the nation's community colleges surged dramatically over the last two years, driven by economic uncertainty and growing joblessness, according to a new study released today by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

From fall 2007 to fall 2009, credit enrollments increased by an estimated 16.9% nationwide, from 6.8 million students in 2007 to an estimated 8 million students last fall. Full-time enrollments for the same two-year period rose 24.1%. Total headcount from fall 2008 to fall 2009 increased 11.4%.

The historic enrollment increases were fueled by factors that brought both new high school graduates and returning adult learners in droves to community college classrooms. For younger students and their families, lower tuitions and other costs at community colleges presented an affordable option. Average tuition and fees at community colleges are $2,544 versus an average $ 7,020 at public four-year institutions and $26,273 for private four-year institutions.

For older adult learners, unemployment or threats of job loss reinforced the importance of college degrees and new skills training to get or keep a job today. Both new grads and adult learners benefited from a growing number of partnerships community colleges forged with business, industry and high schools, the study reported.

The largest percentage change occurred in U.S. towns, as students and families sought more affordable postsecondary options closer to home. Geographically, the Rocky Mountain region (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming) saw the largest percentage increase in total enrollment with part-time enrollment outpacing full-time. In the far West, however, the opposite trend prevailed as full-time enrollment exceeded part-time. The same was true in states of the Mideast, Great Lakes and Southeast, while a balance between full-time and part-time enrollment growth characterized states in New England, the Plains and the Southwest.

Among lessons learned by reporting colleges as they faced substantial enrollment growth, was the need to encourage early application for financial aid among existing and potential students in the face of heightened demand and to maintain a higher degree of operational flexibility, as states imposed both annual and mid-year budget cuts that critically affected community college funding and capacity. To continue improving access and success, researchers concluded that all citizens should be made aware of federal financial assistance programs available to them and that articulation policies should be improved to smooth transfer between two-year and four-year institutions.

A further finding of the study is the degree to which community colleges are now using data to drive campus decision-making. Respondents note they are using historical enrollment data as well as data from local business and industry -- such as pending plant closures -- to predict enrollment shifts. See more on this trend at www.communitycollegetimes.com .

The AACC survey was sent to all AACC member colleges, which represent over 90% of all public two-year institutions. The response rate was 38.2%.

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Charter Schools 'Market Share' Growing; Exceeds 20% in 14 Communities

Georgia has over 62,000 students enrolled in charter schools.

PRNewswire/ -- Public charter schools' presence in K-12 schooling continues to grow, according to the latest Top 10 Charter Communities by Market Share report by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. In fact, charters now enroll more than one in five public school students in 14 communities - including major cities like Detroit, St. Louis, and Kansas City.

Demand remains strongest in urban areas - and as a result, charter "market share" is growing rapidly in cities and adjacent suburbs, even while the overall number of students remains a modest portion of nationwide enrollment.

"Charter schools are working at scale in a growing number of American cities," according to Nelson Smith, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. "Chartering is becoming well-established as a key component of the public education delivery system," he added.

The report finds:
-- Charter Growth Remains Strong: There are 14 communities where more
than 20% of public school students are enrolled in charters, up from
six in 2005-06. 72 communities now have at least 10% of public school
students in charter schools, 27 more than three years ago.
-- 10 Districts Enroll 22% of Charter Students: The 10 districts with the
largest number of students in public charter schools represent 22% of
the total public charter school population nationwide, a total of
304,494 students out of roughly 1.4 million in 2008-09.
-- More than 1/3 of Public School Students in Charters in Three Cities:
Public charter school market share breaks 30% of students in Detroit
(at 32%), Washington, D.C. (36%), and New Orleans (57%).
-- New Orleans Remains at #1 in Market Share Percentage: Not only are
charters in New Orleans serving a higher percentage of public school
students - 57% - than anywhere else in the nation, they are also the
highest performing sector of public schools in the city. More
importantly, the city's public schools as a whole are outperforming
the pre-Katrina system.
-- "In a city like Washington D.C., which has the second highest market
share of charter enrollment, the number of students choosing charters
is impressive," said Anna Nicotera, Director of Research and
Evaluation for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
"Audited D.C. public charter school enrollment has jumped by eleven
percentage points from 25% in (2005-06) to 36% in (2008-09) and
charters there now enroll 43,035 students, which is about 25,000 more
students than four years ago."

The "Top 10" largest market share public charter school communities (including ties) are: New Orleans, LA (57%); Washington, D.C. (36%); Detroit, MI (32%); Kansas City, MO (29%); Dayton, OH (27%); Youngstown, OH (26%); St. Louis, MO (25%); Flint, MI (24%); Gary, IN (23%); Phoenix Union High School District, AZ (22%); and Minneapolis, MN (22%).

The "Top 10" communities with the greatest number of students enrolled in public charter schools are: Los Angeles, CA (59,122), Detroit, MI (43,035), Philadelphia, PA (32,579), Houston, TX (29,889), Chicago, IL (28,973), Washington, D.C. (25,729), Miami-Dade County, FL (23,865), New York City, NY (21,367), New Orleans, LA (20,068), and Broward County, FL (19,867).

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UGA once again breaks record with enrollment of 34,885

Spurred by growth in several colleges and schools, the University of Georgia has its largest student body in history this fall with an enrollment of 34,885. The fall semester enrollment is up 705 students (two percent) above last fall when the enrollment topped 34,000 for the first time, with several newer colleges, schools and programs recording enrollment growth of 12 percent or more.

The Faculty of Engineering saw the biggest enrollment increase this fall with a 192.3 percent growth from 39 students in 2008 to 114 students this year. This increase is due in part to the first time acceptance of freshmen into the engineering program.

The College of Public Health saw a 50.8 percent enrollment increase with the addition of 157 students.

The Odum School of Ecology and the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources also saw significant growth with enrollment increases of 27 percent and 22 percent respectively.

The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences saw a 12.7 percent growth with the addition of 189 students over last year’s enrollment of 1,483.

Total enrollment includes 33,826 students on UGA’s main campus in Athens, up two percent from last year, and 953 students at the university’s extended campuses in Gwinnett County, Tifton, Griffin and Buckhead in Atlanta—a one percent increase from last fall. An additional 106 students are enrolled in independent study.

On the main campus in Athens, undergraduate enrollment totals 25,913, up by 712 over last year, and graduate enrollment decreased by 15 students to a total of 6,309. Enrollment in the professional schools of law, pharmacy and veterinary medicine increased by 51 students to a total of 1,604.

“The demand for enrollment at UGA continues to grow given the quality of our educational programs. I am particularly pleased to see growth in many of our new and existing programs,” said Arnett C. Mace, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “I commend the deans, faculty and staff of these units for the recruitment of these outstanding students to their programs and to UGA.”

Of the total 34,885 enrollment, 8,132 students had never attended UGA before including 4,332 first-time freshmen who enrolled this fall. Combined with 320 first-time freshmen who enrolled this summer, the total count of first-time freshmen for summer and fall is 4,652.

Of the first-time freshmen who enrolled this fall, 363 had earned enough academic credit through joint-enrollment or advanced placement programs to be classified as sophomores, and 10 had enough credit to be classified as juniors.

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Georgia State Enrolls more than 30,000 Students this Fall

Georgia State University expects to enroll more than 30,000 students for the fall 2009 semester, breaking the institution’s records for undergraduate and graduate students.

As of Aug. 19, Georgia State had 22,587 undergraduates and 7,676 graduate students enrolled for a total of 30,263, an increase of 7 percent over last fall.

The overall student body for fall 2008 was 28,175 graduate and undergraduate students.

“We are delighted to enroll more than 30,000 students for the first time in our 96-year history,” Georgia State President Mark P. Becker said. “This milestone reflects both improvements in recruiting high ability students and the university’s efforts to provide the best possible educational experience in the heart of downtown Atlanta. Georgia State University is on the rise, and people are noticing.”

GSU will welcome its largest freshmen class this fall with 2,965 students, about 200 students more than last year. As the number of freshmen increase, so does their academic ability.

The fall 2009 freshman class has an average SAT score of 1089, up eight points from last fall, and a GPA of 3.35, compared with 3.32, the average GPA from fall 2008.

“We not only attracted more students overall but we’ve also seen an uptick in the quality of the pool, in terms of their GPA, SAT scores and academic accomplishments,” said Scott Burke, director of Undergraduate Admissions at GSU. “That’s attributed to a greater number of students interested in attending Georgia State and our recruitment efforts to bring higher quality students to the institution.”

The number of graduate students is increasing as well, with a record 2,020 new graduates students enrolled. Despite the economic downturn, students continue to enroll in GSU’s professional school graduate programs.

“Students are particularly seeking out graduate programs with assistantships and teaching opportunities,” said Timothy Renick, GSU associate provost and chief enrollment officer. “Georgia State is becoming a top choice for graduate students.”

The university also enrolled over 350 new international students, the highest number since before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Like many public institutions, Georgia State is seeing an increase in student enrollments because of its affordability, an important factor in a recession. However, the university received a 21 percent increase in applications for the fall semester. Nationally, the average increase in applications to public institutions was 5 percent.

Over the last decade, GSU has made great strides, transforming from its commuter school roots into a major urban research university that meets the needs of both traditional and non-traditional students.

The new Panther football program, set to begin in fall 2010, and new construction projects, such as the Freshman Hall and the multi-million dollar science center, have created a buzz about GSU.

Georgia State will welcome students with a variety of activities this month.

New and returning students will have more than 40 events to enjoy in this year’s Panther Welcome program, which runs through Aug. 28. Events include GSU Idol, a casino night, movies, sessions on study tips and many more with activities and events designed to get students acquainted with campus services, involved in organizations and meeting new friends. For a complete list, visit www.gsu.edu/pantherwelcome.

GSU students also can easily find answers to questions at the Mega One Stop Shop, held through Aug. 21 in the Student Center Ballroom. The shop is a centralized enrollment services center with advisors from academic programs, housing, financial aid, class registration, student accounts and more. It will be open 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Aug. 20-21. For more information, visit www.gsu.edu/onestopshop.

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More than 6,300 new undergraduates to be enrolled at UGA this fall

The University of Georgia expects to enroll more than 6,300 new undergraduate students this fall, including just over 4,700 new freshmen and 1,600 new transfer students.Approximately 680 of the new students began their studies during the summer and almost 5,700 will begin classes this August.

This is a growth of about 75 new students over last fall.Another 1,000 new undergraduates (200 of them freshmen) are expected to enroll in January for the spring term, bringing the overall total to more than 7,300—an increase of about 300 over the new undergraduates enrolled during the 2008-09 academic year.

Although final statistics will not be available until mid-October, the admissions office has compiled data based on the students who enrolled over the summer or who attended or registered for orientation for fall semester as of the end of July.

The entering freshmen are expected to have a strong grade point average of 3.83 (the mid 50 percentile range is 3.68-4.0) compared to 3.80 last year. The SAT average has risen from 1253 to 1263 (mid 50 percentile of 1160-1360) for the Critical Reading and Math combined, while scores on the new Writing section rose from 609 to 613. For those students who took the ACT, the mean score this year was 28, with a mid 50 percentile range of 26-30.

The 520 students expected to enroll in UGA’s nationally recognized Honors Program have a GPA of 4.09 (with a mid 50 percentile range of 3.96-4.14) and SAT average of 1463 (mid 50 percentile range of 1430-1490 on the Critical Reading and Math components). The ACT average is 32 (mid 50 percent range of 31-33).

Twenty-two percent of the entering freshmen self-identified as other than Caucasian. The number of African-American freshmen is expected to be 362 (7.6 percent). A total of 144 Hispanic students (3 percent of the class) are expected to enroll.

The class is diverse in other factors: 190 of the incoming freshmen represent 58 different countries and almost 7 percent come from homes where English is not the native language. The students come from more than 400 Georgia high schools in 136 counties. Just under 13 percent of the new class is from out of state, although more than 48 percent have social security numbers initially issued in other states, indicating continued in-migration to Georgia from other parts of the country.

“An interesting statistic this year is that 6 percent of the new freshmen are the first generation in their families to attend college,” said Nancy McDuff, associate vice president of admissions and enrollment management.

The number of applications received for this year’s freshman class—more than 17,900—is the highest recorded at UGA for a new class, following several years of record applications. Since 2003, applications for UGA’s freshman class have increased by more than 50 percent.

The rigor of students’ high school curriculum continues to be a key factor in admissions decisions, with some 95 percent enrolled in College Board Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes while in high school.

Five percent of the incoming freshmen (243) were first or second in their graduating class and 54 percent were in the top 10 percent of their class. More than 1,400 (31 percent) of the students completed high school with a 4.0 GPA. Several students had perfect scores on the SAT or ACT, and 102 had perfect scores on at least one of the components of the SAT. Nearly 10 percent of the students started college while still in high school.

While many of the incoming students have not yet decided on a major, the most popular intended majors (listed alphabetically) are art, biology, business, chemistry, international affairs, pharmacy, political science and psychology, following a similar pattern to previous years.

Although legacy is not a factor in admissions decisions, some 30 percent of the students have parents or siblings who attended UGA.

The new incoming transfer students have an earned college GPA of 3.4 on work completed prior to enrolling.They are almost evenly divided between males and females and 19 percent are non-Caucasian.About 92 percent are Georgia residents.

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Georgia HB 251 Provides Public School Choices Within Local Systems

Excerpts from the Georgia Department of Education on the framework of HB 251:

Under a new law signed by Governor Perdue, parents of K-12 public school students in Georgia now have the option to enroll their child in any school within the local school district in which they now reside. The new law requires, among other things, that each school district establish a universal, streamlined process to manage such transfers by July 1, 2009.

This framework and the attached documents are provided to districts to help implement this process and to assist districts in determining whether current permissive school choice policies may satisfy the statutory requirements.

A. House Bill 251
The law itself has three distinct features:
-A parent/guardian can elect to send a child to another public school in the same school district as long as there is classroom space available at the school after its assigned students have been enrolled;
-If a parent elects to exercise this choice option, the parent assumes all costs associated with transporting the child to and from the selected school; and
-A student who transfers to another school pursuant to this law may, at his or her election, continue to attend such school until the student completes all grades of the school.
Note:
• Local school districts should create a prioritized list for student transfers consistent with Federal and State laws.

Students eligible for transfer under the unsafe school choice option (USCO) and students in Needs Improvement (NI) schools that must offer public school choice under No Child Left Behind, must get first priority for available seats at those schools in the district that are not in needs improvement.

If a parent requests a transfer to a school that does not have the services required by the current
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Individualized Accommodation Plan (IAP), nothing in this framework requires the school to develop those services as long as they are available within the local school district.

Existing Georgia law already creates certain enrollment preferences. For instance, twins are given a statutory right to be enrolled in schools with their siblings, consistent with local policies. HB 251 should be construed in light of this and other existing law. As a result, districts may determine enrollment priorities, provided they do so in accordance with the provision of the HB 251.

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UGA sets spring semester enrollment record with 32,968 students

The University of Georgia has set a new spring semester enrollment record with a total of 32,968 students attending classes in Athens and at the university’s four extended campuses.

The total is 2.5 percent above last spring’s enrollment of 32,177, and exceeds by 458 the previous spring record of 32,510 students, set in 2007.

The total includes 32,044 students attending classes at UGA’s main campus in Athens and 924 students at the extended campuses in Gwinnett County, Griffin, Tifton and Buckhead in Atlanta.

Enrollment on the main campus in Athens–up by 751 students over last spring–includes 24,337 undergraduates, 6,042 graduate students and 1,543 students in the professional schools of law, pharmacy and veterinary medicine. Another 122 students are enrolled in independent study.

Enrollment at the extended campuses increased by 4.5 percent from last spring. Gwinnett has the largest with 472 students, all but three of whom are studying for graduate degrees. UGA offers only graduate courses at Gwinnett after phasing out undergraduate courses when Georgia Gwinnett College opened in 2006. The three undergraduates still are coded for enrollment purposes as enrolled at Gwinnett but are attending classes in Athens.

The Griffin campus has 74 undergraduates and 52 graduate students, and the Tifton campus has 44 undergraduates and 14 graduate students. Griffin’s enrollment is up 48.2 percent from last spring and Tifton’s enrollment increased by 16 percent.

A total of 268 students is enrolled at the Buckhead campus, which is mainly for working professionals and enrolls only students studying for master’s degrees in business administration. This is the first spring semester enrollment report in which Buckhead students are counted separately; in previous reports they were counted as enrolled either in Athens or at the Gwinnett campus.

For all four campuses combined, undergraduate enrollment totals 24,458, a 2.8 percent increase from last spring. Total graduate enrollment (6,845) and professional school enrollment (1,543) are both up 1.2 percent from last year.

UGA’s enrollment is part of a 5.8 percent growth in spring semester enrollment for the University System of Georgia. A total of 272,910 students are enrolled in the system’s 35 colleges and universities. UGA has the largest enrollment, followed by Georgia State University (27,424), Georgia Perimeter College (23,315), Kennesaw State University (20,729) and Georgia Institute of Technology (18,025).

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Economy Threatens Impressive Expansion of State Pre-K Programs

/PRNewswire / -- The annual survey of state-funded preschool programs shows impressive expansion in enrollment and spending. However, the recession may reverse the trend, curtailing early education opportunities for children in lower- and middle-income families.

The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) released The State of Preschool 2008 at a news conference today. Key findings:

-- Enrollment increased by more than 108,000 children. More than 1.1
million children attended state-funded preschool education, 973,178 at
age 4 alone.
-- Thirty-three of 38 states with state-funded programs increased
enrollment.
-- Based on NIEER's Quality Standards Checklist, nine states improved the
quality of their preschool programs. Only one fell back.

-- State pre-K funding rose to almost $4.6 billion; from all reported
sources to $5.2 billion, an increase of nearly $1 billion (23 percent)
from 2007.


Whether or not a child receives high-quality preschool education depends on where his or her family lives. Twelve states provided no state-funded preschool in 2008. The report found a decline in the number of states providing sufficient funding to meet NIEER's quality benchmarks.

Based at Rutgers University, NIEER has produced an annual report on state preschool programs since 2002.

Due to declining state revenues, the immediate future of state-funded preschool is uncertain. Generally, expenditures on pre-K are discretionary and easier to cut than expenditures for K-12 education and other programs.

NIEER Director Steve Barnett said states are considering cutting enrollment, reducing program standards, and postponing expansion plans even with the availability of new federal stimulus funds.

Of 38 states with state-funded preschool, cuts are likely in at least nine.

"A federal initiative is needed to support early learning and development," said Barnett. "We propose that the federal government commit to doubling growth in state pre-K while raising quality standards so that by 2020 all 4-year-olds in America will have access to a good education."

To do this, the federal government should match state spending with up to $2,500 for each enrolled child in state pre-K programs meeting basic quality standards. The federal government also should facilitate increased integration of child care, Head Start, and state pre-K.

Research shows that high-quality pre-K can help improve the educational success of all children, decrease dropout rates and crime and delinquency, and improve economic productivity and health.

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Georgia State University Receives Record Number of Applications

A record number of high school seniors have applied to Georgia State University for next fall.
As of March 1, the university’s application deadline, GSU received 10,504 applications for fall 2009 from freshmen – a 25 percent increase over last year’s record of 8,409.

Fall 2009 transfer applications were also up more than 13 percent, with 2,390 received compared to 2,107 last year.

“This dramatic increase in applications is evidence that Georgia State University is fast becoming a destination of choice for freshmen and transfer students,” said GSU President Mark Becker. “The opportunities at Georgia State are amazing for students who want to pursue their educations in the heart of Atlanta, with all of the business, community engagement and cultural richness that the city has to offer.”

Many factors are credited for driving the application increase, including new, targeted recruitment strategies, said Scott Burke, GSU director of admissions.

“Our goal this year was to continue to grow the applicant pool, increase our visibility among prospective students, be a part of conversations at dinner tables and in guidance counselor offices and we definitely achieved that,” Burke said.

The surging interest in GSU also can be attributed to the increasing recognition of the university’s quality academic programs, enhanced campus-life and student housing opportunities, and to the economy.

Also, the new Panther football program, set to begin in fall 2010, and new construction projects, such as a Freshmen Residence Hall and multi-million dollar science center, have created a buzz about GSU.

Over the last decade, GSU has made great strides, transforming from its commuter school roots into a major urban research university that meets the needs of both traditional and non-traditional students.

Last fall, GSU had its largest freshman class in history with 2,753 first-time, first-year students. The overall student body for the 2008-2009 year is 28,175 graduate and undergraduate students.

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Georgia Southern University Sets Record With Spring 2009 Enrollment

Georgia Southern University announced that its Spring Semester enrollment reached 16,664 – an increase of 804 students, or more than five percent, from a year ago.

“Georgia Southern is continuing to attract outstanding students at record levels,” said Bruce Grube, president of Georgia Southern University. “We had a record enrollment this past fall and graduated a large class this past December, but yet we are continuing to grow.”

Grube attributes the increased enrollment to the growing interest from students not only in the state of Georgia, but the Southeast and across the nation. Graduate enrollment as well as enrollment in the University’s popular online degree programs also contributed to the record Spring numbers.

Georgia Southern University began the fall semester with an enrollment of 17,764, an all-time record for the institution. Even more important than the numbers is how the University is growing. This year’s incoming freshman class had a record average SAT score of 1,111 and an average grade point average of 3.1. Additionally, the University recently celebrated a new record rate of retention, the number of students who come to the University and stay the entire four years.

Georgia Southern University was recognized this year as one of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report, one of America’s Best Values by Kiplinger and one of America’s Best Colleges by Forbes. As the University has grown, so has its impact on the regional economy. From 2007-2008 Georgia Southern’s economic impact on the region was more than $748 million.

“We often say that we’re Georgia’s large-scale, small-feel research University,” Grube said. “Students and their parents are seeing that we offer all of the benefits of a major institution with the personal touch of a much smaller private college. They appreciate not being just a number and as a result, are choosing Georgia Southern at a record level.”

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Chancellor Davis: State of University System Strong but Challenged

In his annual “State of the University System” address today, Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. noted that in tough economic times, it was important to send the message that the University System of Georgia (USG) is not a cost to, but an investment in, the state of Georgia and its future.

“We are an answer, not a question; a solution, not a problem; a part of state government where the decisions made today have the capacity to demonstrably improve the future we, our children, and our children’s children, will all live,” Davis said in his remarks to the Board of Regents. “We must not sacrifice the important for the urgent. We must preserve the historic legacy in this state of public higher education as a clear public good that adds value to the lives of all residents across Georgia.”

Reviewing the University System, Davis noted a number of strengths, including strong leadership at the board and presidential level, outstanding faculty and staff and a growing student enrollment, which hit a record high of 283,000 in fall 2008.

Davis cited both Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia’s continuing presence on U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of the top 20 public universities in the nation and growing recognition of the USG’s other institutions as independent measures of the excellence of leadership, faculty and students in the System. “The core mission of our institutions – teaching, research, and public service – not only endures, but thrives, thanks to our faculty and staff,” he said.

But the System’s strengths are being tested and challenged, Davis noted, “perhaps as never before.” He cited five key challenges: the academic preparation of entering students, faculty salaries, institutional missions, access versus quality, and public support.

While enrollment is at a record high, Davis said, too many students still enroll who are academically unprepared for college. He cited USG figures that the percentage of first-time, full-time freshmen requiring learning support, while dropping from 30.5 percent in 1995 to a low of 20.9 percent in 2001, has steadily increased to a current percentage rate of 25 percent. “This trend line is headed in the wrong direction,” Davis said.

The challenge is to continue to align guidelines and requirements between the University System and the State Department of Education to better prepare K-12 students for college. “This is a long-term process, and while all of us recognize that the current situation is very tough, hard times do not absolve us from our responsibility to plan for the future,” he said.

Another challenge Davis cited is to remain competitive regionally and nationally in terms of recruiting and retaining needed faculty. While on a pure percentage basis USG faculty salaries have increased since 2000, when held constant in 2000 dollars, the average faculty salary in the University System’s four-year institutions has decreased 3.7 percent since 2000, compared to a 4.4 percent increase in the 16-member Southern Regional Education Board states (SREB). At Georgia’s two-year colleges, the decrease in constant 2000 dollars for faculty salaries since 2000 is even more marked, Davis said, falling 16 percent, compared to a 6.1 percent increase in the other SREB states.

Today, Georgia ranks 8th among the 16 SREB states in average faculty salaries for four-year institutions, falling from 6th place in Fiscal Year 2007, and the state ranks 10th in faculty salaries at two-year colleges, the lowest level since data started being collected in 1989. “We cannot maintain our competitiveness and our core academic quality indefinitely unless we can address some of these salary challenges,” Davis said.

Another challenge to the System, Davis noted, relates to calls for mergers of some USG institutions. “We are not a cookie-cutter system; all our institutions do not look alike,” Davis said.

Davis cited the System’s response to the call for greater efficiencies through its Shared Services project, which is combining back office operations throughout the System. “This (shared services) is preferable to blurring the missions of distinct institutions,” Davis said. “Students do not choose to attend a generic college or university; rather, they choose a USG brand name, which offers the program they need and the environment in which they can excel.”

One of the biggest challenges to the System is maintaining the balance between access and quality, Davis said. To date, Davis said, in general enrollment caps have not been needed in order to preserve academic quality, thanks in large part to the strong stewardship of college and university presidents. But Davis warned that a continuing trend of rising enrollment and falling resources would challenge the System’s ability to continue to maintain both access and quality. “We will not allow this to happen – if necessary, we will restrict access first before we degrade quality,” Davis said.

Turning from specific challenges to more general attitudes concerning the overall benefit and value of public higher education, Davis noted the increase in “national voices questioning whether higher education is a public good, worthy of public support.” Davis said that the University System and its supporters must be vocal in countering fears given credence by tight budgets that public higher education is a private gain and thus public support should be reduced. “This is a classic – and potentially dangerous – example of sacrificing the important for the urgent,” Davis said.

The University System of Georgia enrolls more than 283,000 students, employs 40,200 faculty and staff, serves more than one million Georgians through public service, administers the state’s 61-member public library system, and contributes annually more than $11 billion to the state’s economy – all on current fiscal year appropriation of $2.3 billion that has been reduced by 8 percent, or $182 million, since August 2008.

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UWG Fall Enrollment Peaks

Enrollment at the University of West Georgia has broken another record with an official fall semester total of 11,252 undergraduate and graduate students, which is a 5.4 percent increase from last year.

The University System of Georgia has designated the university as one of four comprehensive doctoral institutions in the state. West Georgia offers 115 programs of study that include 59 bachelor’s, 32 master’s, three doctorate and nine specialist degrees.

The university also offers online undergraduate and graduate degree programs and 12 certificate programs of study. University President Beheruz N. Sethna said the numbers are noteworthy.
"I am delighted at the significant increase in enrollment, which is above the average growth for the University System of Georgia and for our sector,” said Sethna.

“More significantly, I am very pleased at the way we are growing in standards and stature,” said Sethna. “For example, the SAT scores are 1010 and high school grade point average of entering freshman is 3.03. Based on current admission standards, only 24 percent of the fall 1994 entering freshmen would be admitted to UWG.”

We are grateful to our faculty and staff colleagues who make this happen, to our external friends and supporters, and most of all to our students who continue to invest in higher education for the betterment of their future, and that of UWG, the state, the nation and the world."

The fall 2008 numbers for first-time, full-time freshmen are 1,988, which is almost 11 percent higher than last year’s freshman class of 1,793. The retention rate has also increased for that group to 75 percent.

The USG predicts that the state of Georgia will experience an increase of 100,000 students in higher education in the next decade and West Georgia is preparing to serve many of those students. An expansion of its campus to 645 acres, the construction of new housing for students, additional facilities and a new stadium is just some of the growth and expansion West Georgia is experiencing.

The record enrollment for UWG coincides with several other accomplishments, including recognition as a Best Business School in the nation, a Best Southeastern College and a Best Regional College by The Princeton Review. It is also recognized as one of 200 institutions in the nation to offer superior programs in music, drama and art by Creative Colleges: A Guide for Student Actors, Artists, Dancers and Musicians.

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University System of Georgia Fall Enrollment Increases 4.8 Percent

Enrollment Reaches All-Time High Approaching 283,000 Students

When the University System of Georgia (USG) Board of Regents adopted a new strategic plan in August 2007, the plan predicted an additional 100,000 students enrolling in Georgia’s 35 public colleges and universities by 2020. The numbers in the board’s fall 2008 enrollment report, released today, show the system is on track to reach and perhaps surpass that prediction, with a record 282,978 students.

And 46,711 of those students this fall are first-time freshmen. This group increased 9.6 percent over fall 2007 and is evidence of the increasing demand on public higher education resources by Georgians.

The overall numbers represent a gain of 12,956 students from fall 2007, or an increase of 4.8 percent. This follows a gain of 10,077 students from fall 2006 to fall 2007. To put the gains in perspective, the USG has grown by 32,319 students, or 12.9 percent, in the last five years.

“We have added the equivalent of another University of Georgia to the system over the past five years,” said USG Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr. “This represents significant growth, during a period in which we are challenged to serve more students at a high level of quality with diminished resources.” For example, a new USG analysis shows that the number of faculty and staff in the system to serve students has decreased by 18 percent per 1000 students from fall 2000 to fall 2007, while over the same period, enrollment increased 31.5 percent.

An analysis of the numbers shows two key developments, says Dr. Cathie Mayes Hudson, vice chancellor for Research and Policy Analysis. “First is that the regents’ strategic goal of meeting capacity by increasing enrollment at the state and two-year colleges is producing results. And second is that the System increasingly reflects the state population in terms of the diversity of the student body.”

In the first example, Hudson is referring to a decision by the board to increase access to the System’s eight state colleges and eight two-year colleges. State college enrollment grew by 6.1 percent, while two-year college enrollment grew by 8.4 percent, both well above the USG average of 4.8 percent. Some of the biggest enrollment percentage gains were at these types of institutions. For example, from fall 2007 to fall 2008, enrollment growth was in the double-digits at:

Atlanta Metropolitan College, up 19.1 percent to 2,241 students;
Bainbridge College, up 16.2 percent to 3,091 students;
East Georgia College, up 28.6 percent to 2,555 students;
Gainesville State College, up 10.2 percent to 8,238 students; and
Georgia Gwinnett College, up 98.4 percent to 1,563 students.

Two state universities also have experienced double digit growth from fall 2007 to fall 2008. Fort Valley State University is up 21 percent to 3,106 students and Georgia Southwestern State University is up 13 percent to 2,717 students.

But overall in the System’s 13 state universities, growth was smaller, at 5 percent, which is in line with the Strategic Plan that calls for more modest enrollment growth in this sector. And at the two regional universities – Georgia Southern University and Valdosta State University, enrollment grew 4 percent from fall 2007 to fall 2008, for a combined student body of 29,254.

Enrollment increased at the four research universities by just 2.6 percent – again, right in line with the objectives of the Strategic Plan to shift enrollment to the System’s four- and two-year institutions. Among the four research universities, Georgia State University posted the largest percentage increase, of 4 percent, to a fall 2008 enrollment of 28,229 students. Right behind Georgia State in the percentage increase in enrollment is the Georgia Institute of Technology, with a 3.6 percent increase in enrollment, to 19,424 students. The Medical College of Georgia saw its enrollment increase 2 percent, to 2,919, and the University of Georgia’s enrollment grew 1 percent, to 34,180 students.

The increasing diversity of the USG student population is central to the board’s second goal in its strategic plan. According to 2000 U.S. Census data, Georgia’s African-American population was 29.2 percent, and Hispanic population was 5.3 percent, with the Asian population at 2.4 percent. The numbers in the fall 2008 enrollment report reflect progress in increasing access to the USG by underserved groups, said Hudson.

African-American enrollment increased by 7.5 percent, or 4,878 additional students from fall 2007 to fall 2008. African-American enrollment now stands at 69,771 students, or 24.7 percent of the total enrollment. And African-American student enrollment growth rates have exceeded the total student growth rates for several years: the five-year growth rate is 18.7 percent, and the 10-year rate is an increase of 60.7 percent.

Likewise, the report shows Hispanic enrollment up 12 percent in fall 2008 over last year, to a total this fall of 9,874 students. This year’s gains mirror a 12.6 percent increase from fall 2006 to fall 2007, and reflect the continued growth in the number of Hispanics seeking greater opportunities through higher education. Hispanics now represent 3.5 percent of all USG students.

The enrollment of Asian/Pacific Islander students increased by 6.5 percent, or 1,087 students from fall 2007 to fall 2008 to a total of 17,805 students. This group represents 6.3 percent of all students.

Looking at gender, 57.7 percent – 163,320 students – of the USG student body is female. However, the growth rate for male students, at 5.3 percent from fall 2007 to fall 2008, exceeded that of female students, at 4.4 percent. Eleven USG institutions have more than 65 percent female enrollment.

The system’s full-time equivalent enrollment (FTE) for fall 2008 is 247,168, an increase of 5.1 percent over fall 2007, adding 11,982 more FTE students. This increase is above the overall enrollment increase of 4.8 percent, which indicates that more students are taking additional hours of courses, compared to students in fall 2007.

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Georgia Southern University Sets Record Marks for Enrollment, Retention, Average SAT Score

Georgia Southern University released its enrollment figures for the Fall 2008 semester Tuesday showing record growth in enrollment, student retention, and an all-time high average SAT score by incoming freshmen.

Enrollment at Georgia Southern for fall semester 2008 is 17,748 students. That is the largest enrollment in the university’s history and is up 28 percent from 10 years ago. Not only are more students enrolling at Georgia Southern, they are also staying at Georgia Southern. The University’s student retention rate reached a record 81 percent, up nearly 15 percent since 1999. Georgia Southern is also attracting higher quality students. This semester’s freshman class has an average SAT score of 1111, higher than any class in the University’s history. The average SAT score is also significantly higher than state and national averages.

“These achievements are the result of a decade of hard work and dedication to our students and our university’s future,” said Bruce Grube, president of Georgia Southern University.

Linda Bleicken, Provost and vice president for Academic Affairs says Georgia Southern’s growth and achievement has an economic impact that reaches far beyond the university as students graduate and put their degrees to work. “If a student comes here and they are successful it’s important in the life of the student. But, it is also important for the progress of our region and our state,” she said.

“Parents are recognizing the value of not only the education, but the experience that their children receive at Georgia Southern,” says Teresa Thompson, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. “We pride ourselves on combining all of the benefits a major university with the feeling of a much smaller college. Students like this because they can stand out and get involved and parents love it because they know their son or daughter is receiving personal attention.”

Grube says while much has been accomplished in the last ten years, the University community is committed to growing its programs and opportunities for students. “This is a wonderful time to be a part of Georgia Southern University and we are excited about our future.”

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UGA has Largest Student Body in History with Fall Enrollment of 34,180

Spurred by growth at two of its extended campuses, the University of Georgia has its largest student body in history this fall with an enrollment of 34,180—the first time ever that enrollment has topped 34,000.

The fall semester enrollment is 349 students (one percent) above last fall and 221 more than the previous record of 33,959 set in 2006.

The total includes 33,078 students on UGA’s main campus in Athens, up one percent from last year, and 938 students at the university’s extended campuses in Gwinnett County, Tifton, Griffin and Buckhead in Atlanta—a 6.2 percent increase from last fall. An additional 164 students are enrolled in independent study.

On the main campus in Athens, undergraduate enrollment totals 25,201, up by 207 over last year, and graduate enrollment increased by 110 students to a total of 6,324. Enrollment in the professional schools of law, pharmacy and veterinary medicine increased by four students to a total of 1,553.

The biggest increases at the extended campuses are at Buckhead, where 271 students are enrolled, and Griffin, where 106 students are enrolled. The Buckhead campus is mainly for working professionals and enrolls only students studying for master’s degrees in business administration. This is the first enrollment report in which Buckhead students are counted separately; in previous reports, they were counted as enrolled either in Athens or at the Gwinnett campus.

The Griffin campus has 60 undergraduates, compared to 40 last year, and 46 graduate students compared to 17 last year. The Tifton campus has a total of 48 undergraduate and graduate students, exactly the same as last year.

The Gwinnett campus has 513 students of whom 510 are enrolled in graduate courses. UGA offers only graduate courses at Gwinnett after phasing out undergraduate courses when Georgia Gwinnett College opened. Eliminating undergraduate programs was the primary factor in a 34 percent drop in total enrollment at the campus. Three undergraduates still are coded for enrollment purposes as enrolled at Gwinnett but are attending classes in Athens.

Robert Boehmer, associate provost for institutional effectiveness, said the extended campuses are a crucial factor in UGA’s efforts to promote economic growth in Georgia.

“In response to the state’s growing needs for workforce development and access to higher education, UGA has dramatically expanded its degree programs in Buckhead, Griffin, Gwinnett and Tifton,” Boehmer said.

“This effort will continue as UGA seeks to identify and implement additional degree programs uniquely suited to the needs of these key locations. UGA’s strong commitment to serving the needs of the entire state is well demonstrated by these efforts.”

Of the total 34,180 enrollment, 7,928 students had never attended UGA before including 4,376 first-time freshmen who enrolled this fall. Combined with 377 first-time freshmen who enrolled this summer, the total count of first-time freshmen for summer and fall is 4,753, an increase of 149 from last year.

Of the first-time freshmen who enrolled this fall, 295 had earned enough academic credit through joint-enrollment or advanced placement programs to be classified as sophomores, and 16 had enough credit to be classified as juniors.

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UGA Incoming Freshmen Again Set Records for Academic Quality, Diversity

The University of Georgia expects just over 4,800 students in the new freshman class and they will set new records for academic quality and diversity, according to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Although final statistics will not be available until mid-October, the admissions office has compiled data based on the students who enrolled over the summer or who attended or have registered for orientation for fall semester as of the end of July.

The entering class is expected to have a strong grade point average of 3.8 (the mid 50 percentile range is 3.68-4.0) compared to 3.79 last year. The SAT average has risen from 1242 to 1253 (mid 50 percentile of 1150-1350) for the Critical Reading and Math combined, while scores on the new Writing section rose from 604 to 609. For those students who took the ACT, the mean score again this year was 27, with a mid 50 percentile range of 25-29.

The 510 students expected to enroll in UGA’s nationally recognized Honors Program have a GPA average of 4.04 (with a mid 50 percentile range of 3.96-4.14) and SAT average of 1456 (mid 50 percentile range of 1420-1490 on the Critical Reading and Math components). The ACT average is 31.7 (mid 50 percent range of 31-33).

Breaking all previous records for ethnic and racial diversity, 21 percent of the students in the new class self-identified as other than Caucasian. The number of African-American freshmen is expected to be 381, a 16 percent increase from the previous year and the largest number since 1995. A record 153 Hispanic students are expected to enroll in the class, a 47 percent increase over last year and the largest number of entering Hispanic freshmen in UGA history.

The class is diverse in other factors: 173 of the incoming freshmen represent 48 different countries and more than five percent come from homes where English is not the native language. The students come from more than 400 Georgia high schools in 145 counties. Just over 15 percent of the new class is from out of state, although more than 48 percent have social security numbers initially issued in other states, indicating continued in-migration to Georgia from other parts of the country.

“I am very pleased with the quality and diversity of the freshman class and grateful for the hard work of so many UGA faculty, staff and students who assisted the admissions office throughout the recruitment cycle,” said Nancy McDuff, associate vice president of admissions and enrollment management.

The number of applications received for this year’s freshman class – more than 17,300 – is the highest recorded at UGA for a new class, following several years of record applications. Since 2003, applications for UGA’s freshman class have increased by almost 50 percent.

In addition to the freshmen enrolled in the summer and fall, UGA for the first time is offering an opportunity for 200 additional first-year students to enroll for the Spring 2009 term. The university has received deposits from the students expected to begin their UGA studies in January.

The rigor of students’ high school curriculum continues to be a key factor in admissions decisions, with some 93 percent enrolled in College Board Advance Placement or International Baccalaureate classes while in high school.

Six percent of the incoming freshmen (224) were first or second in their graduating class and 53 percent were in the top 10 percent of their class. Nearly 1,400 (29 percent) of the students completed high school with a 4.0. Several students had perfect scores on the SAT or ACT, and 72 had perfect scores on at least one of the components of the SAT. Nine percent of the students started college while still in high school.

While many of the incoming students have not yet decided on a major, the most popular intended majors (listed alphabetically) are art, biology, business, chemistry, international affairs, pharmacy, political science and psychology, following a similar pattern to previous years.

Although legacy is not a factor in admissions decisions, almost 30 percent of the students have parents or siblings who attended UGA.

By Sharron Hannon

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Summer Enrollment at UGA Increases to 15,608 Students

Summer enrollment at the University of Georgia is up by 306 students from a year ago. Total enrollment for summer semester is 15,608, a 2 percent increase over last summer’s enrollment of 15,302 students.

A total of 14,702 students is attending summer classes at the Athens campus, an increase of 148 from last year. The figure includes 10,004 undergraduates, 4,316 graduate students and 382 students enrolled in the professional schools of law, pharmacy and veterinary medicine.

Total enrollment at UGA extended campuses totals 673 students, up nearly 34 percent over last year’s total, which was 501.

Graduate enrollment at UGA’s campus in Gwinnett County totals 451, an increase of 67 students and a 17.4 percent increase over last summer.

Enrollment at UGA’s extended campus in Buckhead includes 76 students in the evening M.B.A. program and 64 students in the Executive M.B.A. program.

Twenty-eight students are enrolled at UGA’s Tifton campus, which offers only undergraduate courses, up from 11 last year.

Enrollment at the Griffin campus, which offers both undergraduate and graduate programs, is 54 students, a 108 percent increase over last summer. The figure includes 25 undergraduate students, up from 10 last summer and 29 graduate, up from 16 last year.

An additional 233 students are enrolled in UGA independent study programs, a 5.7 percent decrease from last summer.