Larger enrollment will not increase admission standards

Oct 29 2009 - 12:03am | Lori Jones

Prospective students can expect Texas State admission requirements to remain the same in the near future.

University officials have no plans to alter admission restrictions despite the steady increase of students. Student admission increased from 29,105 in fall 2008 to 30,816 in fall 2009, according to the Texas State Preliminary Enrollment Report.

Stephanie Anderson, director of undergraduate admissions, said there was a 68 percent increase in academic advisers for the 2009-2010 school year and a 42 percent increase in full-time faculty since 2003.

“This is part of the commitment to handle the amount of students we’re bringing in,” Anderson said. “We are very fortunate the university continues to put additional resources into faculty and advisers that will allow us to keep up with the enrollment growth.”

Anderson said university  officials plan to accommodate the increasing number of students.

“The goal for next year is to increase the overall university capacity by 3 percent,” Anderson said. “At this point we would rather grow and use our resources to meet that growth than to stop it.”

Anderson said the university will tighten admissions when it lacks adequate resources to provide students. Enrollment would first be limited by an earlier admissions application deadline. University officials would next consider altering academic requirements, she said. University officials periodically evaluate how to manage student growth with the available faculty and physical space, she said.

“We believe the admissions requirements coupled with the university’s retention efforts are being successful as indicated by our continued increase in retention rates and graduation rates,” Anderson said.

Kelsey Peltier, interdisciplinary studies junior, said she tougher admission requirements should be enforced now.

“I would love it if the requirements for enrolling were a little stricter,” Peltier said. “I hate that people think Texas State is so easy to get into.”

Peltier said she thinks increasing academic admission requirements will result in a more reputable university.

“I think growth is good, but I don’t want people to think we’re just University of Texas rejects,” she said.

Blessen Varghese, health information management senior, said increasing academic admission requirements to limit growth would prevent Texas State from becoming as noteworthy as larger surrounding schools.

“I think as long as we have the resources, we should continue to recruit as many future bobcats as possible,” Varghese said. “A big school means big pride.”

Anderson said the primary basis of the admission requirements is academic preparation as indicated by courses a student has taken and how they have done in those courses.

“We will continue to evaluate our admissions requirements and processes,” Anderson said. “Our goal is to have admissions requirements that allow us to admit students that can be successful academically on our campus.”

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