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Purdue looks to lower enrollment,
ensure quality
 By
Kelsey VanArsdall
Campus Editor
Statistics are showing that the university is meeting
its goal to slowly decrease enrollment numbers.
"We are bringing it down to decrease our class
sizes and relieve the tightening parking problems and residence hall
space," said Doug Christiansen, the assistant vice president for enrollment.
He said the quality of education at Purdue is the
most important thing for students, and the way to ensure that quality
is to decrease the number of students coming in each semester.
Christiansen said the university plans to bring
enrollment numbers down from what was more than 37,000 five years ago,
to what will eventually be an approximate 31,000 total student population.
There are a total of 28,858 undergraduate students
enrolled in this spring semester, and in comparison to the statistics
from the 2000-2001 spring semester, the enrollment is up this year by
more than 405 students. However, that doesn't mean the goal of an enrollment
decrease won't be accomplished.
Margaret Dalrymple, the associate registrar for
research, said "the only reason for the increase in the spring semester
is because fall semester enrollment was at an all-time high."
Chistiansen said that the increase shouldn't reflect
poorly on the University's goal to lower future enrollment. He said
the numbers are dependent on the statistics from five years ago, which
are still affecting this semester's numbers.
Christiansen said that, on average, enrollment
has increased 10 percent each year for the last five years
Dalrymple said that spring semester enrollment
is always lower than fall because of the people that graduate in December.
Graduate enrollment statistics have also been totaled
and there are more than 7,000 students enrolled. There are also 350
more graduate students this year than last year's spring semester.
More specific changes such as the total number
of ethnic student enrollment are also on the rise. Christiansen said
that it is important that the ethnic enrollment numbers stay steady,
if not increase, because campus diversity is just as important as the
education the university provides. There has been a 4.1 percent increase
in the number of African Americans, American Indians, Asian Americans
and Hispanic Americans currently enrolled.
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CAMPUS DESK PHONE:
(765)
743-1111 ext. 253
Campus editor:
Kelsey VanArsdall
Assistant Campus
editors: Rachael Conley,
Matt Lindner
To
send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org
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