SU’s selective admission advances academics but drops enrollment

The student population has decreased because of new selective admission requirements but Southern University remains optimistic about recruiting and advancing academic programs.
Velva Thomas, Director of Admissions Recruitment and Testing Services stated that less than 200 out of the 3,800 people who applied this Fall 2002 semester were rejected.
According to the SU Office of Registrar 8,896 students are enrolled this fall semester.
A year ago any applicant with a high school diploma was admitted, regardless of standardized test scores.
Now students’ need to have at least a 2.2 cumulative grade point average, a score of 17 or more on the ACT or a SAT score of 830 and to take classes based on T.O.P.S. curriculum (four units of English, three units of math, natural science, and social science).
” The move toward Selective Admissions allows us to expand graduate programs which provides more opportunities; such as Ph.D. programs, Public Policy and Public Affairs, Nursing and more. In the state of Louisiana the majority of four year institutions will all have selective admissions by 2005,” said Associate Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Earl Doomes.
Doomes also stated that graduate school enrollment has dropped by 143 students.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette was the first four-year college to have Selective Admissions in Fall 1999. Although enrollment decreased that semester, it increased the proceeding semester three percent or 445 students. Now the University of Louisiana in Monroe, Louisiana Tech University, University of New Orleans, and others practice Selective Admission.
“Selective Admission may be bad for some students but it’s wonderful for faculty ,”Thomas said.
” Students are being better prepared and the faculty sees the difference. I think we will have a big growth in a ten -year period. This helps a lot even at the second education level,” Thomas said.
“Anyone without a set of core courses can’t come without special consideration. There is a provision, up to 15 percent can be admitted based on special talent,” Doomes said.
The University plans to increase student admission by recruiting students from community colleges.