Enrollment jumps at Dearborn, Flint

Updated 4:00 PM September 28, 2005

Enrollment jumps at Dearborn, Flint

By Kevin Bergquist

Student enrollment has increased on the Dearborn and Flint campuses and the leaders of both institutions say it is a positive sign of things to come.

Freshman enrollment at U-M-Dearborn increased this fall by more than 20 percent over last year's class. As of the first day of classes Sept. 7, the campus had enrolled 843 new freshmen, up from 696 in fall 2004, nearly matching the historic high of 850 freshmen in 1998.

Total enrollment on the Dearborn campus also is expected to increase this fall as measured by the number of student credit hours.

Enrollment at U-M-Flint jumped 4 percent for the fall semester, led by an increase in graduate students and continued growth in the number of undergraduate students. The number of new freshmen increased 5 percent over fall 2004, the second year of growth.

U-M-Dearborn has developed plans to increase enrollment significantly in the years ahead, and the rise in freshmen enrollment is a good sign for the future, Chancellor Daniel Little says.

"In addition to being good news for the campus, higher levels of college enrollment are good news for our region and for the state," Little says. "For this region to prosper, we need to increase the number of students who are able to enroll in college and go on to complete degrees, and this fall's numbers are an indication of our commitment to supporting that goal."

In addition to the larger total, Dearborn's class is one of the most competitive in history, with an average high school grade-point average of 3.5 and average ACT score of 24. More than 70 percent of the students come from the top half of their high school graduating classes.

Total enrollment at U-M-Flint has reached 6,422. Major increases in nursing, education and physical therapy programs contributed to an overall increase of 32 percent in graduate students.

In response to increased demand by current students, alumni and the community, U-M-Flint has added or expanded several graduate programs this fall, including social sciences, educational administration, teacher education and nursing.

"I am delighted that our student body has increased significantly this year, marking the second consecutive year of enrollment expansion," Chancellor Juan E. Mestas says. "The growth in the graduate programs is truly dramatic, and the increased number of freshmen bodes well for future years."

Vahid Lotfi, associate provost and dean of graduate programs, says many of the new offerings utilize technology and creative scheduling to meet the needs of working adults and students with complex lives.

Enrollment jumps at Dearborn, Flint

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