UW-Whitewater freshman applications rising sharply
Released: December 5, 2002
Freshman applications for fall 2003 enrollment to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are coming in at a record clip this fall, raising concerns that access will be curtailed next year for many capable students.
At the start of December, the UW-Whitewater Admissions Office had processed 2,997 freshman applications for fall 2003, compared to 2,109 applications at the same time last year. That represents a 42.1 percent increase over last year. Actual admits to UW-Whitewater have also risen sharply — up 35 percent from last year, or 514 additional students.
Tori McGuire, UW-Whitewater director of admissions, said the increase is an indication of greater statewide demand for higher education. It may also reflect some anxiety among prospective students that looming state budget cuts will further erode access to universities.
“My concern is that we have always been a campus committed to providing access to our region,” said McGuire. “But with continued cuts and increasing demand, we are going to lose some of those students who traditionally would have come here and would have succeeded.”
UW-Whitewater Chancellor Jack Miller noted that the university is currently nearly 270 students over its target enrollment for fall 2002. Even with a status-quo state budget, UW-Whitewater will have to enroll fewer freshmen next year, he said. Major budget cuts would significantly limit the freshman class: The UW System estimated that a 5 percent budget cut would lead to 368 fewer students at UW-Whitewater.
“Something has to give,” said Miller. “There is a direct connection between our state budget support and our ability to provide a quality education. This year, we are only recruiting for half of our open faculty and staff vacancies. Budget cuts will reduce our teaching staff and available course sections even more.”
That increased pressure on available resources has already surfaced this year. The College of Letters and Sciences, which teaches the majority of general education courses required for all majors, had filled all class sections in spring 2003 in required math and science courses unusually early this year.
Access is a key goal for all UW System campuses, but UW-Whitewater has had a tradition of providing opportunity to students of color, first-generation students and those with unique circumstances, such as physical and learning disabilities. That category of student stands a tougher time getting the opportunity to succeed, McGuire said.
She said the university will continue to maintain a recruiting presence at its top feeder high schools and those directly in the region. But her office is taking a hard look at scaling back campus visits next semester.
- Brian Mattmiller ,npa@uww.edu
