UM System joins Common App platform, hope to increase ‘number, quality and diversity’ of applicants

The UM System is announcing a new partnership with an application program in an effort to increase the “number, quality and diversity” of applicants across the four campuses.

Starting Wednesday, the UM System is joining The Common Application or Common App, a nonprofit organization that provides undergraduate college admission applicants with the tools to apply to hundreds of colleges and universities worldwide.

“By adding our campuses to the Common App’s network, prospective students can use the service to apply to any of our four UM System institutions, while easily managing all aspects of the process,” UM System President Mun Choi said in a statement. “By becoming a member institution of this innovative program, we will increase the visibility of the UM System campuses across the nation and world.”

According to a release, more than 850,000 students use the service to submit more than 3.5 million applications. Applicants enter their information one time and send the completed application to multiple schools.

“Our new partnership with the Common App is an important investment,” President Choi said. “We are excited about the potential to increase the number, quality and diversity of our applicants and introduce prospective students to our excellent degree program.”

This all comes as Mizzou continues to face a drop in enrollment following the 2015 protests on campus that made national headlines.

The school started in fall 2015 with 35,448 students–the highest in five years. In a recent special report, ABC 17 News reported MU now has 31,000 students–its lowest point since spring 2011.

The decrease in enrollment is particularly significant as tuition makes up about 80 percent of the university’s budget. The university is also dealing with significant cuts from the state, making the financial situation even more difficult. As a result, MU has been looking to different parts of the country for recruitment.

Choi will be addressing faculty and staff members in a special general faculty meeting today. ABC 17 News will be attending the meeting. We will update this story and have more in our evening newscasts.