MOUNT PLEASANT -- Central Michigan University has experienced a slight decline in student enrollment for the 2012-13 academic year.
Total enrollment, including off-campus, is 27,693, down 2.2 percent from last year.
Steven Johnson, CMU vice president for enrollment and student services, said the decline was anticipated and reflects Michigan’s shrinking high school graduation classes. Johnson is leading the effort to create and implement an aggressive, strategic enrollment management plan for the university.
“The whole campus is coming together to help middle and high school students understand CMU’s nationally ranked academic strengths and the incredible experience behind the degree that students receive at CMU,” Johnson said.
“That experience means faculty know students by name. CMU students, including those at the undergrad level, work elbow-to-elbow with faculty on major research projects. Faculty and staff are actively involved in helping students land internships and jobs,” he said.
Enrollment statistics show a 3.5 percent increase in minority students on-campus, continuing five years of growth. This increase, to a record 2,095 students, may be attributed to CMU programs for underserved middle and high school students statewide, Johnson said.
“We promote these programs to provide a bridge for young people from underprivileged populations so they understand college is a real possibility, and that CMU is an excellent choice,” he said.
Other enrollment highlights include:
- Incoming CMU freshmen have an average 3.3 high school GPA, higher than the national 3.0 average. Incoming freshmen also have an average ACT score of 22, higher than the national average of 21.
- CMU’s total minority enrollment, including Global Campus, is 4,810, a nearly 2 percent increase from last year. CMU’s total on-campus minority enrollment has grown steadily the last five years, with a 26 percent increase since 2007.
- Undergraduate student credit hours through Global Campus have increased 15.1 percent, to 23,854 this year.
“The Global Campus growth is largely coming from courses that are delivered online,” says Merodie Hancock, vice president of Global Campus. “It gives our civilian and military students a chance to fill their schedules and complete their degrees conveniently in their busy lives.”
CMU’s Global Campus has 50 centers in the United States, Mexico and Canada in addition to online classes. Enrollment in CMU’s 16 Michigan centers hit a record level of 6,017 students.
“Because of CMU’s locations throughout the state and beyond, and because of our various platforms such as online classrooms, we have been able to attract more than 6,000 additional students,” Johnson said. “That shows tremendous leadership for CMU and the residents of Michigan.”
CMU is continuing its commitment to affordability and access for students. For more information on CMU’s efforts to make tuition more affordable, click here.
