Incoming freshmen to be ‘best’ academically

Roger Thompson may have a better recruiting class than Kelvin Sampson. \nThompson, IU’s vice provost for enrollment management, said he believes the incoming freshman class of 2007 is “the best academically prepared class in the history of IU.”\n“I think the greatest strengths of this class are going to be… the academic profile,” he said. “By any academic measure … this year’s freshman class is going to look better than last year’s freshman class. You know, that’s just really exciting for us.” \nThompson said he believes a variety of factors pushed more outstanding students to apply to IU. He said the University’s “academic foundation” is very strong, pointing to strong schools like the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Journalism, that might go unnoticed at times in favor of widely known academic compartments, like the Kelley School of Business. \nDean of Students Dick McKaig said he could not speak to exact figures regarding the academic performance of the incoming freshman class, since he would not see such data until after the class is enrolled. However, he said he has received calls from parents wanting to know why their children were not admitted to IU when the students’ academic profiles might have gotten them in past years.\nThompson also said he believes the University has a “synergy,” which is to say that more qualified students are spreading good things about attending IU to friends at home. He said this effect, coupled with a better approach to showing prospective students what IU has to offer has contributed greatly. \nThompson also pointed to increased contact and communication with high school students, administrators and guidance counselors as another key factors in the possible strength of this upcoming class. He said he believes all those elements together have contributed to an overall class that Thompson firmly believes can be the best in IU history. \nHowever, he said he doesn’t think the University has had to radically change itself or its approach to garner such results. \n“I don’t think the tune has changed,” Thompson said. “I think we’re still known for all the things IU’s been known for for a long time. You put all that together, and I think we have a lot of appeal to talented high school students.”\nMcKaig said University optimism regarding the potential of this class is strong. He said it is possible for institutions to “get hot” with regard to recruiting and admitting bright high school students, and that he believes there is a tendency for students to “jump on board” if they see a college or university on the rise in terms of education and popularity. \n“You’re likely to have a stronger class if your admittees are stronger,” he said. “Right now, I think, in fact, there is a lot of enthusiasm and optimism.” \nMcKaig said he also felt expanded scholarship opportunities could also contribute to getting stronger freshman classes. \n“That (scholarship opportunities) is indeed part of what can make IU attractive to a level of student that is being sought after,” McKaig said. “The fact that we have the money available... helps the institution look more attractive.”\nThompson also addressed two hot-button issues regarding enrollment: campus diversity and rising tuition. \nHe was quick to point out that, while tuition is rising, so is the University’s commitment to providing scholarships to students, pointing to $11 million that have recently been committed to such programs and awards. He also said IU-Bloomington is enrolling “several hundred more students” than the Indiana Commission for Higher Education recommends for the campus. \nThompson said IU officials are committed to stopping the “brain drain” and keeping qualified IU students in the state after graduation, despite rising tuition costs. He said he believes the University is doing a good job making education available to interested students. \n“I appreciate the tremendous commitment that’s required of students and families to finance higher education in the 21st Century,” he said. “We want to make sure that the best and brightest students in the state of Indiana (stay) in the state of Indiana.”\nThompson also pointed out that, with respect to campus diversity, minority admission is up. However, he said it remains to be seen what effect that will have on enrollment, with the number of enrollment deposits from minority students are close to the same level as last year. \n“Right now, we’ve admitted more (minority students), but the number of deposits is tracking are basically the same,” Thompson said. “I’m hoping that will pick up over time.”\nThompson said he believes IU has a history of admitting good freshman classes, but that this one has the potential to be special. He said he believes the entire University community will see an immediate change, something he said his office seeks to accomplish with every new class admitted to IU.\n“When the faculty of this campus begin to see an (improvement) in their courses, then I think we will have really done something,” Thompson said. “As we begin to talk about the things that I think makes us unique, I think there’s still plenty of room for improvement.”