SFA Jack Fanatic said:

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Thanks for posting, Alan. I'm embarrassed to say that in all my years of loving on all things SFA that I've ever set foot on these garden grounds. It's on my bucket list now. Is there an online map of the grounds and trails? How can I be informed of the plant sales dates?

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https://www.sfasu.edu/gardens

Are there enrollment numbers yet for the fall semester?

nacluth said:

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Are there enrollment numbers yet for the fall semester?

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I was wondering the same thing They must be down or they would have published. During Weavers welcome back, he showed a graphic that looked like enrollment was flat. He said that housing was an issue.

BigJack85 said:

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nacluth said:

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Are there enrollment numbers yet for the fall semester?

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I was wondering the same thing They must be down or they would have published. During Weavers welcome back, he showed a graphic that looked like enrollment was flat. He said that housing was an issue.

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Probably why they are trying to break ground for the new one ASAP.

NacMan said:

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Enrollment is very slightly down. I don't have exact numbers, but I have heard from people who should know that it's by a little less than 100 students, so essentially flat.

What is interesting is that the last two freshman classes ARE the two largest in SFA history (though this year's is smaller than last year's), but overall enrollment is NOT booming as a result.

The UT system has a program called CAP, whereby students declined admission at UT Austin can enroll in a different system school and then transfer to UT-Austin after 1 year if they meet certain GPA minimum. I suspect that a large chunk of last year's huge freshmen class did exactly that and enrolled in SFA with the plan all along to transfer to Austin for year 2.

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I was just about to ask about this yesterday because I was curious.

Fwiw, last time I checked the UT transfer program numbers. The vast majority of students end up staying at their first UT system institution, which gives us high caliber students who may have otherwise picked Tech/UNT/A&M etc.

I would suspect we also have some 3rd year dropoff, just based on SFA's student profile. We've got a lot of first gen and lower and middle class students and based on years past those tended to drop out after a rough sophomore or junior year.

But if we can fix that part of the funnel a bit, keep the incoming classes this large, and the sports teams keep winning, I think we're probably setup for some large chunks of growth in the next few years.

TallTexan said:

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NacMan said:

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Enrollment is very slightly down. I don't have exact numbers, but I have heard from people who should know that it's by a little less than 100 students, so essentially flat.

What is interesting is that the last two freshman classes ARE the two largest in SFA history (though this year's is smaller than last year's), but overall enrollment is NOT booming as a result.

The UT system has a program called CAP, whereby students declined admission at UT Austin can enroll in a different system school and then transfer to UT-Austin after 1 year if they meet certain GPA minimum. I suspect that a large chunk of last year's huge freshmen class did exactly that and enrolled in SFA with the plan all along to transfer to Austin for year 2.

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I was just about to ask about this yesterday because I was curious.

Fwiw, last time I checked the UT transfer program numbers. The vast majority of students end up staying at their first UT system institution, which gives us high caliber students who may have otherwise picked Tech/UNT/A&M etc.

I would suspect we also have some 3rd year dropoff, just based on SFA's student profile. We've got a lot of first gen and lower and middle class students and based on years past those tended to drop out after a rough sophomore or junior year.

But if we can fix that part of the funnel a bit, keep the incoming classes this large, and the sports teams keep winning, I think we're probably setup for some large chunks of growth in the next few years.

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Weaver blamed the flat "overall" enrollment on retention rate. I am paraphrasing here…. Because our dormitories were not adequate for the previous incoming class our retention rate dipped from 74% to 72% (or similar). Along with kids accelerating degree plans we are just flat.

In the welcome speech Weaver seemed to indicate that in 2028 we would see another leap forward as large incoming freshmen classes start to stack up and our dorm situation improves.

BigJack85 said:

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Weaver blamed the flat "overall" enrollment on retention rate. I am paraphrasing here…. Because our dormitories were not adequate for the previous incoming class our retention rate dipped from 74% to 72% (or similar). Along with kids accelerating degree plans we are just flat.

In the welcome speech Weaver seemed to indicate that in 2028 we would see another leap forward as large incoming freshmen classes start to stack up and our dorm situation improves.

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This isn't aimed at you, but this is heavy spin that the SFA media team put on things. Internally, SFA people were told to expect a 10% increase in the freshman class over last year, and an overall increase of 5%+ enrollment. All spring and summer there was a drumbeat of publicity put out by the university: record applications, record admissions, record attendance at recruiting events, etc. Instead, what happened was a smaller freshman class and a slightly lower overall enrollment.

The lower retention rate last year was due to letting in a number of very academically unprepared students who dipped out after one semester because of bad grades. It had nothing to do with dorms, though new dorms are still needed because many of the older ones are in bad physical shape. Mays Hall, Hall 16, and Hall 20 all had to be put out of commission and torn down in the last five years because they weren't fit to live in any longer.

Weaver has to sell the promise of an enrollment increase because his charge from the UT system is to do exactly that or they'll find someone else who will. I'll believe another increase in enrollment when I actually see it. SFA still has to face the basic issue that it is geographically isolated from major population centers, in a small city that isn't growing or very dynamic for young people. No offense to Nac, which is my adopted home.

NacMan said:

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BigJack85 said:

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Weaver blamed the flat "overall" enrollment on retention rate. I am paraphrasing here…. Because our dormitories were not adequate for the previous incoming class our retention rate dipped from 74% to 72% (or similar). Along with kids accelerating degree plans we are just flat.

In the welcome speech Weaver seemed to indicate that in 2028 we would see another leap forward as large incoming freshmen classes start to stack up and our dorm situation improves.

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This isn't aimed at you, but this is heavy spin that the SFA media team put on things. Internally, SFA people were told to expect a 10% increase in the freshman class over last year, and an overall increase of 5%+ enrollment. All spring and summer there was a drumbeat of publicity put out by the university: record applications, record admissions, record attendance at recruiting events, etc. Instead, what happened was a smaller freshman class and a slightly lower overall enrollment.

The lower retention rate last year was due to letting in a number of very academically unprepared students who dipped out after one semester because of bad grades. It had nothing to do with dorms, though new dorms are still needed because many of the older ones are in bad physical shape. Mays Hall, Hall 16, and Hall 20 all had to be put out of commission and torn down in the last five years because they weren't fit to live in any longer.

Weaver has to sell the promise of an enrollment increase because his charge from the UT system is to do exactly that or they'll find someone else who will. I'll believe another increase in enrollment when I actually see it. SFA still has to face the basic issue that it is geographically isolated from major population centers, in a small city that isn't growing or very dynamic for young people. No offense to Nac, which is my adopted home.

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I think we all need to be realistic about enrollment gains. You are correct that our isolation is a challenge. That being said, our remoteness always felt like a strength. New dorms won't increase enrollment on their own. But some of the investments we are making should increase retention.

I bet we see a an increase next fall. It won't be much, but it feels like it takes more than 3 years to turn a ship.

NacMan said:

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BigJack85 said:

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Weaver blamed the flat "overall" enrollment on retention rate. I am paraphrasing here…. Because our dormitories were not adequate for the previous incoming class our retention rate dipped from 74% to 72% (or similar). Along with kids accelerating degree plans we are just flat.

In the welcome speech Weaver seemed to indicate that in 2028 we would see another leap forward as large incoming freshmen classes start to stack up and our dorm situation improves.

---

This isn't aimed at you, but this is heavy spin that the SFA media team put on things. Internally, SFA people were told to expect a 10% increase in the freshman class over last year, and an overall increase of 5%+ enrollment. All spring and summer there was a drumbeat of publicity put out by the university: record applications, record admissions, record attendance at recruiting events, etc. Instead, what happened was a smaller freshman class and a slightly lower overall enrollment.

The lower retention rate last year was due to letting in a number of very academically unprepared students who dipped out after one semester because of bad grades. It had nothing to do with dorms, though new dorms are still needed because many of the older ones are in bad physical shape. Mays Hall, Hall 16, and Hall 20 all had to be put out of commission and torn down in the last five years because they weren't fit to live in any longer.

Weaver has to sell the promise of an enrollment increase because his charge from the UT system is to do exactly that or they'll find someone else who will. I'll believe another increase in enrollment when I actually see it. SFA still has to face the basic issue that it is geographically isolated from major population centers, in a small city that isn't growing or very dynamic for young people. No offense to Nac, which is my adopted home.

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Important issue. Glad you are bringing the true story to the table.

Coming from a group of alumni that graduated in mid 80's (84 , 85 and 86) we have all lamented our lack of updated facilities. The central part of campus remains one of the most beautiful in the state and country. But the outskirts of the campus has plenty of warts. I lived in The Zoo (14) and it has needed to go for more than 15 years.


The remodel on East College is long overdue. I believe it will have a significant aesthetic impact. New facilities won't increase enrollment. But some of these actions in total should put us in a better competitive position.

TallTexan said:

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NacMan said:

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Enrollment is very slightly down. I don't have exact numbers, but I have heard from people who should know that it's by a little less than 100 students, so essentially flat.

What is interesting is that the last two freshman classes ARE the two largest in SFA history (though this year's is smaller than last year's), but overall enrollment is NOT booming as a result.

The UT system has a program called CAP, whereby students declined admission at UT Austin can enroll in a different system school and then transfer to UT-Austin after 1 year if they meet certain GPA minimum. I suspect that a large chunk of last year's huge freshmen class did exactly that and enrolled in SFA with the plan all along to transfer to Austin for year 2.

---

I was just about to ask about this yesterday because I was curious.

Fwiw, last time I checked the UT transfer program numbers. The vast majority of students end up staying at their first UT system institution, which gives us high caliber students who may have otherwise picked Tech/UNT/A&M etc.

I would suspect we also have some 3rd year dropoff, just based on SFA's student profile. We've got a lot of first gen and lower and middle class students and based on years past those tended to drop out after a rough sophomore or junior year.

But if we can fix that part of the funnel a bit, keep the incoming classes this large, and the sports teams keep winning, I think we're probably setup for some large chunks of growth in the next few years.

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I thought that during the presidents welcome / kickoff, the number of students transferring to other UT System schools was in the mid 70's (77) So, not a huge (impactful) number.