to contribute to the quality of the University's academic programs, the Office of the Associate VP for Academic Affairs will promote the development and maintenance of a variety of academic support services.
Objective
Attract Quality Undergraduate Students
To improve the academic reputation of the institution, it is imperative that a higher quality of student be recruited and retained. The higher quality students will also assist the University in recruiting and retaining higher quality faculty.
Indicator
Enrollment Rates
If the University is successful in targeting and enrolling quality undergraduate students, there should be an increase in SAT scores for entering students, an increase in the number of honor students and international students.
Criterion
Increase In SAT Scores
An increase of SAT scores from year to year will indicate increasing quality of students.
Finding
Increase In SAT Scores
There was a slight increase of SAT scores for incoming students:
F 2009 average - 1010.29
F 2010 average - 1015.80
Criterion
Increase In Honors Program
To the extent that the Honors Program increases in size without lowering its standards, it can be assumed that growth of the Honors Program is correlated with the University's ability to attract and enroll higher quality students.
Finding
Decrease In Incoming Honors Students
Although we did not have as much of an incoming class as fall 2009, we had a class of 346 which was down slightly from 354 in 2009-2010.
F 2009 - 354 F 2010 - 346
Attached is profile for Honors students 2010-2011.
Criterion
Increase In International Students
Enrollment for international students will increase from year to year.
Finding
Increase In International Students
There was a 1% increase from Fall 2009 to Fall 2010 in international student enrollment.
F 2009 - 135
F 2010 - 150
Action
Enrollment Rates
Although our slight increase in SAT scores signals quality students applying to and being accepted at SHSU, two other areas show mixed results. The Honors student enrollment was down last year while the international student enrollment grew. Unfortunately, some of the issues involved are economic to the nation and the State of Texas, and they impact our enrollment. Enrollment projections at SHSU are flat for the coming academic year. Thus, our recruitment efforts will have to account for a struggling economy and potential students reluctant to encounter debt.
Objective
Quality Students Retained
Quality Students who enroll in SHSU enroll from semester to semester, and thus be retained.
Indicator
Retention Rates
Retention rates are calculated by the SHSU Institutional Research Division.
Criterion
Retention Rate Of 70%
SHSU will retain at least 70% of incoming freshmen from fall to fall semesters.
Finding
Steady Retention Rate
Our retention rate was down 3% from fall 2009. However, it is at the average rate of retention for the past five years.
F 2009 - 75%
F 2010 - 72%
The attached table summarizes retention rates for the past five years. As can be seen, retention of diverse students fell for all ethnic groups except for Native Americans. The most dramatic decrease was in international students followed by students of Asian ancestry.
Action
Retention
We have many initiatives associated with retention and student success initiatives. The First Year Experience (FYI) staff stay abreast of the latest trends in retaining students. We will determine if there are strategies we may employ to keep the trend at 70% or higher.