College freshmen are choosing the University of Colorado at Boulder in record numbers this fall to take advantage of strong academic programs and the quality of student life.
The fall 2000 freshman class will have about 600 more students than last year聮s freshman class of 4,560. The class will include more than 2,800 students from Colorado. Overall enrollment for degree-seeking students will be approximately 26,000. Final enrollment numbers will not be available until the close of the drop-add period, sometime the week of Sept. 18.
The increase from last fall is due primarily to an increase in freshmen, according to Lou McClelland, director of institutional analysis. Continuing undergraduate, transfer and graduate numbers will be very similar to fall 聭99, McClelland said.
"The University of Colorado at Boulder is a special place to pursue learning opportunities, and both incoming freshmen and continuing students can look forward to an outstanding education and campus experience in 2000-01 and the years to come," said Chancellor Richard L. Byyny.
Various influences have contributed to the increasing number of students interested in attending CU-Boulder, according to Boulder campus officials.
"The Boulder campus continues to be a popular choice for freshmen because of new and enhanced programs to provide personalized learning opportunities in each of the colleges and through special programs in the research laboratories, in the community and the residence halls," said Phil DiStefano, vice chancellor for academic affairs.
Preparation for the anticipated record freshman class has been underway since late spring. Steps have been taken to increase the number of housing spaces for freshmen, and faculty and instructors have been added to accommodate increased demand for courses.
To meet course demand, new course sections and recitations have been added and some courses have been expanded to meet demand from incoming freshmen, according to Richard Nishikawa, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Nishikawa added that many entering students who have declared majors are preregistered for a number of their required courses, which for new students puts them immediately on the road toward fulfilling their major requirements.
Many freshmen have already visited the campus for orientation and are enrolled in their fall courses. Most are enrolling for full course loads and are finding courses to fulfill their requirements, Nishikawa said.
"It is gratifying to see this level of interest, particularly among resident students, in attending this excellent institution. The faculty, staff and programs these students will encounter during their time here are among the best in the nation, and students who enroll at Boulder will benefit from their learning experiences for a lifetime. We enthusiastically welcome them to our community of learners," said Byyny.