President reports on increasing freshman enrollment at MU
The University of Missouri System president said Thursday that freshman enrollment at the system’s Columbia campus is projected to increase this year but the three other universities in the system might not be seeing the same boost.
The board of curators met Thursday at the Missouri University of Science and Technology campus in Rolla.
The board approved revised rates for student housing and dining as well as the construction of a new nursing school for the Columbia campus.
The financial committee met last week to approve these items and brought its report to the entire board Thursday morning.
The board approved housing and dining rates in November, but MU officials had to revise the numbers because of first-time freshman student projections at the MU campus.
UM System President Mun Choi said during his report to the curators that the number of incoming freshmen at MU who have paid their deposit is up about 21 percent. “Mizzou is back.The pride at Mizzou as illustrated by the interest not just in Missouri, but throughout the United States. It’s really a testmeant that we have a high quality and affordable education.”
Choi said the other three universities in the UM System are seeing decreases in deposits.
According to the president’s report, the University of Missouri-St. Louis is seeing about a 4 percent decrease in enrollment numbers from last year. The comparison numbers for the other two universities in the system were not available, but the president said they might be lower than last fall.
“I want our universities to be committed for the last three weeks to ensure that that the students that have been committed are converted into yields.” Choi mentioned how they are attempting to raise the numbers, “By providing more scholarships, making phone calls and encouraging them to come to the campus and make the right selection.”
The new Sinclair School of Nursing will cost $30 million dollars, with funding coming from the School of Nursing’s reserve funds, MU Health Care funding, gifts and profits from land sales.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
