Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - A&M-CC applications jump 63%

Marketplace \| Services \| Contact Us \| Community \| Arts & Entertainment \| Local Guides

Saturday, April 8, 2000

A&M-CC applications jump 63%
University may be forced to limit enrollment
By Cynthia Hodnett
Caller-Times

John Kennedy/Caller-Times

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi sophomores Christophe Bergues and Beth Gorman catch some rays at Miramar Apartments on campus. With freshman applications up 63 percent, the university is looking to expand its classrooms, laboratories and freshman housing.

Freshman applications received so far at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi for fall 2000 have increased by 63 percent, and university officials are looking at limiting enrollment.
   "The numbers were higher than we anticipated," said President Robert Furgason. "We were looking at having between 900 to 1,000 freshman students. We certainly don't want to go over 1,100."
   That would be a 44 percent increase over last fall's freshman enrollment of 764.
   Since 1994, when the school became a four-year university, A&M-Corpus Christi's student body has grown 28 percent, from 5,152 students to 6,621 this year, according to university figures.
   University officials said growth will continue during the fall 2000 semester as they project enrollment to reach 7,000.
   The 1,674 freshman applications received since February is an increase of 63 percent, from 1,025 last February.
   Officials said increased interest in the university could be attributed to a boost in recruitment efforts. Those efforts include visits to high schools and direct mail campaigns.

Kimiko Fieg/Caller-Times

   "We are not only just getting students, but we are getting good students who want to come here for the location and some of the programs that we offer," said Manuel Lujan Jr., dean of Enrollment Services.
   Officials at Texas A&M University-Kingsville also are looking at an enrollment boost, which they also attribute to recruitment.
   According to university figures, the number of freshman who have been accepted for the fall semester is 1,218, compared with 468 who were accepted at the same time last year.
   The boost in applications is a turnaround after declining enrollment at A&M-Kingsville since 1993.
   The number of applications received through early March for enrollment at Texas A&M University-Kingsville for the fall semester has increased by 16 percent since the same time last year, according to university officials.
   Many of those applying are selecting science-related majors such as biology, engineering and environmental and computer sciences, university officials said.
   "Seven years ago, we had a small number of kids in our program but now we have nearly 200," said Grady Blount, a science professor. "The students are just looking at the reality of the job market. Many of the skills that are needed for the job market are relying more on technology and the sciences."
   Thomas Bryan, a 17-year-old senior at West Oso High School, said he plans to apply to A&M-Corpus Christi within the next week.
   "I have visited the campus and I like what I saw," said Thomas, who wants to study music or aerospace engineering.
   "It is closer to home and a lot of people say it is one of the best schools here. It seems as if they want to add more things to their campus to make it larger than what it is."
   As enrollment continues to climb, university officials say they continue to research ways to accommodate the student body.
   Several classes for freshmen have been added and some class times were rescheduled to provide additional space, Furgason said.
   Groundbreaking for a new science and technology building is scheduled for Friday, said Tim Coppinger, coordinator of engineering technology at the university.
   The building, which will open for classes next year, will provide additional classroom and laboratory space, Coppinger said.
   "It is has certainly been difficult to accommodate the students but the new center will help to provide the space that we need," he said.
   Also, the university is planning to build a performing arts center in a few years that officials say will attract top-rate performances to campus and be a cultural and economic boon to the city.
   The university also plans to add 151 new apartment units for freshmen and to provide additional housing at an existing apartment complex on campus that is owned by Camden Property Trust of Houston, Furgason said.

| Talk about this story | Next Story | Home |

[ Printer-friendly version ]
[ Subscribe to newspaper ]

SEND THIS PAGE TO A FRIEND

[an error occurred while processing this directive]