Aug. 24, 2009 -- While the scene may not look different than any other year, as the parking lots fill with moms, dads and minivans this August, SUNY Fredonia is experiencing a record moment as it welcomes its most academically selective class in terms of standardized test scores and high school averages.
Multiple factors have merged to create a “perfect storm” for many public colleges across the nation. Not only has Fredonia steadily gained brand recognition for a variety of programs, but current economic conditions have made state schools especially attractive to many students and their families. In addition, the sheer number of college students is also at a peak, a demographic spike known as the “Echo Boom,” which encompasses the 3.3 million children of the baby boomers, the biggest pool in the U.S. since 1977.
As a result, Fredonia stopped accepting freshman applications in May — its earliest date ever — thanks to the record 6,600 applications it had already received from prospective freshmen, 2 percent higher than the record set last year — in July — when these demographic forces first began converging.
“We stopped accepting freshman applications two months before last year’s record cut-off date,” President Dennis L. Hefner confirmed. “We’re delighted to welcome our strongest, most competitive class in our history. More than 1,200 members of the Class of 2013 are joining us in August, building on the momentum we’ve generated in becoming a more selective institution that consistently draws students of a high caliber.”
However, Dr. Hefner, added, there are many students who would otherwise have been admitted but have not, due to the substantial state-levied cuts to SUNY’s 2009-10 operating budget.
“The reality is, there were a lot of good students that we had to turn away because we needed to make sure that every student who walks through our doors has access to the courses needed to graduate within four years,” he continued. “Unfortunately, the excessive cuts we’ve received from the State Department of Budget have meant that many qualified, deserving students were left behind.”
At roughly 5,500 students, SUNY Fredonia is the third-largest university in Western New York, although few people come away from the campus with a large-school feeling. Still, there are physical constraints that won’t allow for significantly greater enrollment without a corresponding increase in funding for added instructors, residence halls and classrooms.
“It may not seem like a lot,” Director of Admissions Chris Dearth added, “but even 100 extra students would cause some real operational problems for the entire campus, so we have to keep our capacity within a manageable range.”
Fredonia generated growth across many departments in 2009, including Education, Political Science, Psychology, Communication, Computer Science, and Visual Arts and New Media, while most others were at or near their enrollment targets, including the School of Business and School of Music.
In addition to the economic influences, Dearth believes Fredonia’s strengths, such as its academic reputation, small class sizes and safe campus have played a big role in this success. He also credits new academic programs, marketing strategies and increased travel by admissions counselors.
“We’ve seen more and more high-achieving students applying,” Dearth added. “It’s a snowball effect that comes from steadily talking to them and their guidance counselors about our excellent programs and academic reputation. New majors in Sport Management, Journalism and Music Business have also made a difference.”
Transfer applications have also increased, reaching 1,460, a 2 percent jump over 2008, while minority applications have risen by 360, or 25 percent, and graduate applications have climbed by more than 300, or 30 percent.
The campus also hosted 18 percent more visitors in the ’08-’09 recruiting season than in the prior year, with more than 10,000 students and parents attending open houses, Saturday visits and daily information sessions — another new record for the campus.
“Our team always provides students and their families with an outstanding experience when they visit,” President Hefner added. “And the results speak volumes, as 86 percent of students who attended our Accepted Student Reception last spring committed to attending this fall.”
