In an attempt to increase enrollment figures for the spring semester, the University has just kick-started an aggressive campaign.
For new undergraduate transfer students, $1,000 scholarships will be given and they will also receive automatic eligibility for in-state tuition rates.
All continuing undergraduates with 60 credit hours, 3.8 GPA and in 15+ hours will receive a $500 scholarship.
“We need to provide scholarship opportunities for our current students, as well as create a stimulus to increase our credit hour production. Credit hour production will impact the formula funding we receive from the state,” Dr. Mary Hendrix, interim provost and vice-president for academic and student affairs said.
Also starting in the spring semester, new graduate students will be given $750 scholarships if enrolled in six credit hours, and $1,000 if they enroll in nine. Continuing graduate students will receive $750 for enrollment in six credit hours, and $1,000 for nine.
In the upcoming winter mini, all juniors and seniors will receive free tuition for one 300 or 400 level class if they enroll in one-without any extra forms to fill out.
According to Hendrix, offering a free mini term could significantly increase the enrollment rate, and bring students closer to graduating.
“Deans’ council introduced the idea, and it was approved by the President’s Advisory Council and the Strategic Enrollment Management Taskforce,” Hendrix said, “Increase in credit hours and we hope an increase in the formula funding from the state.”
These initiatives are not ones that have been implemented in the past, and many students are jumping at the opportunities.
“To my knowledge it has not been done in the past. We will examine the impact of the initiative and determine if the university received a sufficient return on our investment,” Hendrix said.
According to Hendrix, money for these initiatives is coming from incentive funding that must be spent by the end of August. Although the cost of books is not factored in to the free term, everything else is completely paid for.