Southeastern shows increase in enrollment, ACT scores
Contact: Rene Abadie
9/13/10
HAMMOND – In spite of higher admission standards for new freshmen applying for the fall semester, overall enrollment at Southeastern Louisiana University increased 1.3 percent, while at the same time ACT scores reached a record high, university officials announced today.
The total headcount for this fall, including all classifications, is 15,351 compared to last fall’s 15,160; the ACT composite scores for incoming freshmen averaged 22.1, higher than last year’s 21.7.
Southeastern President John L. Crain said while he is pleased to see enrollment remain strong despite higher admission standards, he is especially pleased to see an increase in the ACT composite scores as well as an increase in the number of freshmen with ACT scores of 24 and above. Southeastern had 737 incoming freshmen with scores of 24 and above compared to last year’s previous record of 696.
“The most powerful predictor of students’ potential success in college is their prior academic success,” said Crain. “Our incoming freshmen ACT scores have shown steady increases in the last several years. This is an important indicator of these students’ potential to succeed in college and graduate in a timely manner.”
While all University of Louisiana System institutions are mandated to implement higher admission standards in 2011, Southeastern officials decided to implement higher standards this year.
“This is our fourth increase in admission standards since initial adoption in 2000,” said Crain. “Although we evaluated this most recent increase for some time, it has always been part of our long-term strategic plan to continue to sharpen our focus on recruiting students who are better prepared to succeed at the university level.
“Good things continue to happen in our academic programs, despite budget cuts,” he added. “We are very pleased that potential students continue to recognize Southeastern as an attractive place to pursue their education. I attribute that entirely to the commitment and dedication of our faculty and staff to the success of our students.”
Increasing admission standards is also an expectation of the recently enacted La GRAD Act.
The top six feeder parishes to Southeastern this fall are St. Tammany, 3,527; Tangipahoa, 2,522; East Baton Rouge, 2,024; Livingston, 1,865; Jefferson, 1,097; and Ascension, 963.
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