A Student Body Appropriate for the University

The University's mission states that it is "committed to providing a diverse, dynamic learning environment, founded on a strong liberal arts curriculum." We also state in our culture statement that "the culture of the University of Northern Iowa is characterized by a long-standing commitment to student learning and to excellence in teaching." We are committed to being the best possible institution for student learning, based upon the quality of our culture and educational environment, which requires sufficient resources.

Table II.1 shows our total headcount enrollment for the past 11 years is as follows:

Table II.1: Headcount Enrollment

Table II.2: Ten-Year Headcount Enrollment Projections

Current projections show that we will enroll approximately 14,000 throughout the next decade. Projections for the next five years after 2004 predict a slight drop in enrollment as the size of the high school graduating classes in Iowa declines. Our enrollment is primarily based upon residents of this State, so as the size of Iowa high school graduating classes rises or falls, so does the general pattern of our enrollment. Therefore our enrollment for the foreseeable future should remain within our desired range for providing effective educational services and benefits to students. We expect that our student-to-faculty ratio will continue to be around 16:1.

Figure II.1: Ten-Year Headcount Enrollment Projections

The University of Northern Iowa has attained and maintained both an appropriate size and an excellent student profile. Admission requirements at UNI, as at the other Regent universities, continue to be moderately selective. In the last decade we have increased math and science expectations for our students entering the University directly from high school. Composite ACT scores for admitted students continue to average 23, typical for doctoral-granting institutions. Although up to 10 percent of each entering freshmen class may be admitted from the lower half of their high school graduating class, the actual percentage of students admitted from the lower half has been less than 10 percent for every year this past decade.

One area requiring continued work is the percentage of minority students admitted to and retained at the University. More than a decade ago the Board of Regents set a goal of 8.5 percent minority enrollment for all Regent universities. Between 1992 and 2000, 3.8 percent to 4.8 percent of the student body identified itself as minority. During this same period the diversity of the faculty and staff increased, and many departments now exceed university affirmative action goals. The University's strategic plans have established goals and objectives to improve minority enrollment and minority retention (see Goal 2B of the 1996-2001 plan at http://www.uni.edu/infosys/fsp/index.html and Objective 4.1 of the 2001-2006 strategic plan at http://www.uni.edu/pres/2001-2006strategicplan/).

The University has also undertaken targeted efforts to increase the number of international students. Goals 2A and 2B of the 1996-2001 strategic plan at (http://www.uni.edu/pres/1996-2001strategicplan/) and Goal 4 of the 2001-2006 strategic plan at (http://www.uni.edu/pres/2001-2006strategicplan/) address this
initiative.

An ongoing enrollment goal is to increase the number of high-ability students at the University. Goal 1A of the 2001-2006 strategic plan and Objective 1.2 of the 2001-2006 strategic plan demonstrate the University's interest in attracting additional high-ability students through the creation of a University-wide honors program. This new honors program has received Faculty Senate and Board of Regents approval.

Introduction