By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
New facilities are translating into more faces on the Bowling Green State University campus.
BGSU officials announced today that 15 days after class started, that enrollment on the Bowling Green campus is up 4.4 percent to 17,4649. The headcount for both the Bowling Green and Firelands campuses is up 640 students, or 3.3 percent, from last year, and almost 1,000 more than two years ago.
That was helped by a freshman class that is larger than last year’s and, according to Cecilia Castellano, vice provost for strategic enrollment planning, the most academically prepared ever.
Those 3,542 students have an average grade point average of 3.42 with an ACT score of 22.8.
Retention of those students who entered last fall and are back this fall is just under 76 percent. That’s lower than last year, by about a percentage point. But because the class was bigger, the sophomore class is larger than last year’s.
One reason students are attracted to BGSU, she said, is the new facilities.
“I would say overall our new facilities and renovated facilities are continuing to attract students because it really aligns with our quality and innovative programs,” Castellano said. “The facilities are just strengthening what’s taught.”
That means more students in architecture and environmental design, which is housed in a brand new home that used to be a warehouse. It means a modest growth in media and communications majors with the opening of the new Kuhlin Center.
Castellano expects even more growth in those programs next year. The building wasn’t open when this class of students was touring campus, but those prospective students looking to enroll in fall, 2017 are “floored” by the possibilities of the new building.
Overall the sciences, including the university’s new forensics science program, business majors and education majors are also seeing growth. First and second year science instruction will get a boost when the renovated Moseley Hall opens a year from now. And a new home for the College of Business is in the planning stages.
The College Credit Plus program has also increased by 35 percent, both with high school students taking college courses at their home school and those taking courses on the BGSU campus.
More graduate students have enrolled as well in computer science, business and the new data analytics programs being strong draws. This semester there are 2224 graduate students on campus, up 5.3 percent from 2015.
The graduate and undergraduate enrollment also reflects a shift in the way the university is handling online courses. While distance learners, those who take semester-length courses, is down for both graduates and undergraduates, the numbers are offset by the growth of the E-Campus program. The E-Campus program offers courses in eight-week increments. That works better for adult students, Castellano said.
The university’s is also attracting more international students. The number is up 15 percent to 1,190. Bringing in students from around the world has been one of President Mary Ellen Mazey’s goals. China and India are the largest source of these students, with a slight decrease in students from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and an increase in students from Vietnam.
Speaking later before Faculty Senate, Mazey said: “This was good news for our finances and budget.”
They are attracted especially by business programs, including data analytics, and computer science.
Castellano said that BGSU continues to draw most of its students from Ohio, about 86 percent. Continued growth of international enrollment may effect that percentage a bit, she said.
Enrollment at BGSU’s Firelands campus is down 4.3 percent. University spokesman Dave Kielmeyer said this is cyclical. Branch campuses and community colleges tend to see enrollment declines as the economy improves, and people opt to get jobs rather than go to school.
And at the Faculty Senate meeting, Provost Rodney Rogers said that the university’s goal is to increase both the number and academic preparedness of the Class of 2017.
