|
University reaches record numbers |
|
|
|
Written by Caroline Zentner LETHBRIDGE HERALD
|
|
Tuesday, 03 November 2009 |
The University of Lethbridge has the highest number of students ever with nearly 300 more students this year.
That’s a hike of 3.5 per cent over last year and includes its campuses in Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge.
“We’re obviously very pleased. The 3.5 per cent increase mirrors what’s happened across post-secondary education in Alberta,” said Andy Hakin, U of L vice-president academic and provost. “We were very pleased to see what was, in the end, a very late response to applications to university but a very, very healthy response to give us that high water mark.”
The student population hit 8,243 thanks to those late applications. Hakin said the university received and handled more than 500 applications after its traditional June deadline, although not every application leads to a student on campus.
“The group that saw the largest increase was in those students transferring from other post-secondary institutions,” Hakin said. “The numbers of students coming to us directly from high school was about flat with last year. Also we had a good increase in the number of graduate students coming to the University of Lethbridge.”
The U of L’s goal is to increase the number of graduate students to 800 by 2017 with growth pegged at 10 per cent a year. With 172 new graduate students this fall, the total number is already at 519. Specific increases were noted in master of arts, master of education in leadership and doctoral programs.
“We’ve really been pushing hard to move forward with our strategic plan which is building the comprehensive university. Part of that of course is an expansion of graduate student opportunities without diminishing the undergraduate student opportunities,” Hakin said.
To keep enrolment steady in the future, the U of L is always on the lookout for innovative ways to attract students. Demographics for the Lethbridge area indicate smaller numbers of students coming up through the high school ranks. However, Calgary demographics hold more promise and the U of L could build on the more than 30 per cent of its student population already coming from Calgary.
“We’ve never been an institution that just looks to our own backyard to attract students,” Hakin said. “We’re looking at new types of campaigns to attract students. We’re using a lot of Web 2.0 techniques like Facebook ads.”
The U of L also wants to make it easy for students to apply and to have programs that appeal to students.
Anyone who’d like to know more about learning opportunities at the U of L can find answers at an open house Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness. One lucky student who applies for admission on Saturday will win a $1,500 tuition credit. Campus tours, display booths and information sessions with faculty and graduate student advisors will be available.
|
