Ohio University’s administrators boasted for weeks just how successful their recruitment efforts were to attract freshmen.
On Monday, they backed up those claims with hard numbers.
The university officially enrolled its largest freshman class in OU’s history — 4,249 students — to its Athens campus this Fall Semester, after receiving record-breaking numbers of applications, according to the university’s preliminary data.
This year’s freshman class had more students who identify as a minority race, out-of-state and Appalachian students compared to previous years.
“Ohio University’s new enrollment record is indicative of our continued, university-wide commitment to educational access and student success,” OU President Roderick McDavis said in a statement to The Post. “I want to thank the enrollment management team, as well as our dedicated faculty and staff, who all play an important role in the recruitment and retention of students.”
OU’s acceptance rate for the 2013-14 school year, at 73 percent, was more than 4.5 percent lower than last school year’s, according to OU’s Office of Institutional Research.
OU’s growth stemmed from strong in-state growth, along with a continual increase of out-of-state students, said Craig Cornell, associate provost for enrollment management.
“We’ve done a lot of things over the past several years to get the OU name and brand out there more effectively,” Cornell said. “I think (these numbers) show the value that families and parents are able to place on Ohio University.”
OU’s average composite ACT score for this school year’s incoming freshman class is the same as last year’s at 24. OU’s Class of 2017’s average composite grade point average is 3.42 — only .01 point lower than last school year’s incoming freshman class.
But Cornell said he believes, based on this year’s combination of grade point and ACT averages, the Class of 2017 is one of the university’s strongest freshman classes yet.
“We’re in Southeast Ohio, we’re very cognizant of that … We want to continue to admit students who are going to be successful,” Cornell said. “(We) take that student who’s good and take them beyond their expected rate of success.”
Despite a dramatic increase in applications, OU officials don’t plan on revamping the selection criteria.
The university’s increase in enrollment numbers funded this school year’s faculty and staff pay raise.
“Our colleagues are excellent teachers,” said Pam Benoit, executive vice president and provost, in an OU news release. “Our staff members support our students with quality enrichment programs, academic support services and maintenance of a safe environment during their time at Ohio University.”
dd195710@ohiou.edu
