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UH trying to balance demand, enrollment

Deadlines, caps designed to limit student population

by Amanda Zirgulis
The Daily Cougar

Despite more stringent admissions procedures, UH enrollment has reached an all-time high, leaving the question of how to balance limited resources with the traditional mission of educating the working man.

Three years ago, the application date for incoming freshmen was moved to April 1 instead of weeks before classes begin in August, and the freshman class size was limited to 3,400 students. Even so, 35,066 students were enrolled at UH in the fall, the largest number ever.

Ed Apodaca, associate vice president for enrollment management, said the University does not want to become exclusive in its admissions.

"I hope that we maintain diversity. We don't want to be elitist," Apodaca said. "Our commitment is to work with a highly diversified student population and serve the city of Houston. 

"We want students to take the right courses, to stay here and do well," he said. "Moving the deadline has helped make some students' dream a reality."

Roughly 83 percent of UH students receive financial aid. Along with the application deadline, UH has a July 2 financial aid credentials deadline for incoming freshmen, giving students time to gather financial aid paperwork.

University President Jay Gogue said UH distributed $158 million in financial aid last fall, and the credentials deadline is necessary for the school to process those awards.

"It's not done to exclude students; it's to help them," Gogue said.

He said capping the number of freshmen is also necessary to best use the University's faculty, staff and physical resources.

"We need to know if we have the right number of freshman English courses to accommodate students as the number of students varies from year to year," Gogue said. "You want to strike a balance, build the hopes and dreams of people."
 

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