UMS enrollment unchanged from 2004

BANGOR – University of Maine System enrollment has remained virtually unchanged from last year, but students are taking a record number of classes, according to a report released Tuesday by the system’s Office of Planning and Policy Analysis.

The total number of full-time and part-time students is almost identical to last year, but as of Oct. 14 there were 63 more students enrolled full-time, said UMS spokesman John Diamond. In addition, part-time students as a group are taking a higher number of courses.

“When you add the number of credit hours being taught, our faculty is teaching the equivalent of 645 additional classes compared to this time last year,” he said.

The report states that among all seven public universities there are 34,245 students – nearly identical to the 34,253 enrolled last fall. This is the fourth year in a row that overall enrollment has exceeded 34,000 students.

“Demand for university-level education remains strong, and we expect it to grow in upcoming years,” said UMS Chancellor Joseph Westphal. “We are working on new strategies to promote the value and opportunities that our universities offer to both traditional-aged students as well as to adults considering going to, or returning to, college. We believe those efforts will help increase the number of Maine residents who pursue higher education and who choose to stay in Maine for their learning experience.”

According to the report:

. In-state enrollment represents 87.6 percent of the university system’s student population.

. 21,308 women make up 62.2 percent of the student body and 12,937 men account for the other 37.8 percent.

Three of the campuses saw growth in enrollment, while others experienced a slight decline.

Student population is increased not only by attracting new students but also by retaining current ones, said Joe Carr, spokesman for the University of Maine where enrollment this year totals 11,435, an increase of 77.

Director of Admissions Sharon Oliver said the rise in students at the Orono campus is partly because the first year class is the largest since 1991. She credits a hike in out-of-state students resulting from greater recruitment effort.

With 117 more students this year, the University of Maine at Fort Kent experienced the highest increase and now has an enrollment of 1,193. Recruitment and marketing efforts to tout the northernmost campus’ rural environment, Franco-American heritage, and proximity to the Maine wilderness have paid off, said President Richard Cost.

UMS is “doing a far better job of selling the concept” that all seven campuses “are very different, but all are high quality and all are affordable because we’re a public system,” he said.

With an enrollment of 2,452, the University of Maine at Farmington saw 103 more students, all of whom are part-time, said Jennifer Eriksen, director of public relations, pointing out that the campus has a 2,000 full-time student cap.

Enrollment at the University of Maine at Augusta totals 5,494, a decrease of 44 students; at the University of Maine at Machias, 1,149 students, a decline of 42; and at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, 1,548 students, a decrease of 104.

Diamond pointed out that UMPI’s numbers are “still very strong,” particularly when taken in the context of last year’s record-high enrollments.

He said University of Maine at Machias recently experienced a “transition year” with President Cynthia Huggins taking over for interim President Sue Huseman. And he said the University of Maine at Augusta’s enrollment is “pretty consistent” and “speaks well to the efforts” made to recruit students at both the Augusta campus and at the University College of Bangor, which is part of UMA.

Enrollment at the University of Southern Maine totals 10,974 this year, a decline of 115 students. But spokesman Robert Caswell said although the head count has dropped, the number of full-time students has increased.

Chancellor Westphal said he anticipates that enrollment will grow in coming years as a result of the new “Advantage U” program in which liberal studies graduates from Maine’s community colleges who meet certain requirements are guaranteed admission into one of the seven UMS campuses.

The full report may be found at www.maine.edu.