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News

UH more diverse as enrollment falls

Fewer transfer; Katrina Cougars affect numbers

by JESSICA ROBERTSON
Senior Staff Writer

Unofficial numbers for this semester show a decrease in overall enrollment of slightly more than one percent last spring. As of Tuesday, enrollment for Spring 2006 was at 33,203, compared to 33,768 in Spring 2005.

Declining enrollment figures can be attributed to fewer transfer students at UH this semester, Assistant Director of Admissions Jeff Fuller said.

"Most of the new students we get in the spring are transfer students," he said. "That's really what our new student population is in the spring, so it's not a significant decrease on the undergraduate level. We're on track for fall enrollment with the applications we've received from entering freshmen and transfers (for next semester)."

About 100 of the 700 displaced students affected by Hurricane Katrina enrolled last fall returned to UH this semester.

"I hope they had a good experience, enjoyed the campus and wanted to stay here," Fuller said.

Despite declining enrollment numbers, recent trends show that the University is beginning to reach one of its strategic goals of a more diverse student body, he said. Females outnumber males on campus by eight percent, and entering freshmen students are becoming more representative of the demography of Houston.

Whites, blacks, Asians and Hispanics are almost equally represented in freshmen enrollment numbers, Fuller said. Caucasians account for about 30 percent of entering freshmen, while each of the other groups make up about 20 percent of enrollment. Caucasians represent a higher percentage of overall enrollment as well, Fuller said.

"The demographics of the city of Houston and its suburbs are changing," he said. "Graduating seniors (in the area) are more diverse ... and (enrollment) is reflecting the community."

The Office of Admissions participates in recruitment initiatives with the Center for Mexican-American Studies and visits college fairs targeted toward diverse applicants, Fuller said.

"Everywhere I go on campus, I see people who are completely different from each other," hotel management junior Patricia Trevino said. "It brings people with different ideas and backgrounds together. We can learn not only what's being taught in the classroom, but also from each other."
 

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