Applications on rise at La Crosse

by Carolyn Potts

Wednesday, April 2, 2008 01:43

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse confirmed Tuesday they have received a record number of applications to attend the university for fall 2008.

UWL has taken roughly 700 applications more than it did last year. The university denied about 2,000 applicants this year, accepting a class of about 1,700 beginning next fall.

Cary Heyer, director of university relations for UWL, said even if the Office of Admissions says the freshman class for 2008 is full, the university does not shut the door on applicants.

“We are acutely aware that there are special situations where we need to admit more students,” Heyer said. “Sometimes a student has a special quality or talent that we think will be beneficial to our campus.”

UW-Madison has also reached record numbers of received applications. According to Associate Director of Admissions Tom Reason, UW-Madison is approaching 26,000 applications, which is up about 700 from last year.

UW-Madison wants to enroll a class of about 5,700 this fall after over-enrolling for the 2007-08 freshman class by about 3,000 students, Reason said. He said the increase in applications this year has made it a more challenging year both for students and for the Admissions Office.

Heyer attributes the increase in applications this year to the quality of UWL.

“It illustrates that UWL is an exceptional school,” Heyer said. “We weren’t at this position even five years ago. The number of applications is growing, and it shows that students want to come here.”

The demographics of high school graduates are expected to change over the next few years while the number of high school graduates in Wisconsin is expected to decline, according to a study released by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.

But UWL is confident the number of applicants will remain strong, Heyer said. UWL recently adopted a Growth, Quality and Access Agenda that allows them to redirect state funding toward increased financial aid for students rather than toward faculty and staff. Heyer said this agenda allows the university to increase the enrollment numbers over the next few years.