If Loyola feels a little bit smaller this year, it’s because Loyola’s overall enrollment has grown 1.5 percent, and the undergraduate enrollment has increased 6.4 percent.
Enrollment has increased because there is broader marketing for prospective students.
Loyola has one representative on the East Coast and one on the West Coast who visit local high schools and get the word out about Loyola University New Orleans.
“We have also increased visitation and added a full open house in the fall,” said Sal Liberto, vice president for Enrollment Management.
For the second year in a row, first year retention rate is 82 percent.
This is higher than the national retention average, which is 72 percent, Liberto said.
“We have done a better job at engaging students in the class and in co-curricular programs. We are deliberate about reaching out to students, and we have a specific position in the office,” said Elizabeth Rainey, Loyola’s retention and success coordinator, who works directly with first year students.
This position is unique to Loyola University New Orleans.
“The growth of retention is a collaborative effort. Academic Affairs, Mission & Ministry along with Student Affairs have made commitments that student engagement is a strategic initiative,” said M.L. “Cissy” Petty, vice president for Student Affairs and Associate Provost.
Usually about 5 to 7 percent of first year students do not re-enroll.
“Maintaining enrollment is like landing an aircraft. You have to be in the right run way and land in just the right spot,” Liberto said.
Some first year students will not re-enroll, but this happens at all universities.
“We have a really good first year learning experience, with freshman seminars, and learning communities. Students can relate on several different levels, beyond academics,” Liberto said.
Loyola University of New Orleans hopes to continue raising enrollment.
“We will be doing multi-class recruitment for high school students, engage more students through email. We plan to have 10 percent more visits to campus. All of these things will help us get to our goal. We expect 850 first year students next year,” Liberto said.
“The increase in retention means that we are delivering both a quality liberal arts education simultaneously while being student-centered. The best schools get those two things right. And we want to be in that company,” Petty said.
This year’s first-year students come to Loyola University from 18 countries and 45 states and territories. Ethnic and minority enrollment has increased from 36.8 to 39.3 percent, and there is a continuing increase in female students, who now makes up 58.4 percent of this year’s class.
Yvonne Cappel-Vickery can be reached [email protected]
