Large enrollment number causes Syracuse University to close admissions for Fall 2002 semester

Large enrollment number causes Syracuse University to close admissions for Fall 2002 semesterMay 10, 2002Kelly Homan Rodoskikahoman@syr.edu

Due to an extraordinarily large number of enrollments this year, Syracuse University officials announced today that admissions to the incoming class for the Fall 2002 semester have been closed.

The University has exceeded its expected enrollment target of 2,950 incoming freshmen and transfer students by nearly 100, says David C. Smith, vice president for enrollment management. Between 3,000 and 3,050 undergraduate students have already enrolled for the fall semester. Without cutting off admissions at this time, Smith expects another 100 to 150 students would be enrolled.

“We are unable to accept any more enrollments,” Smith says.

“I am glad we are so popular,” says Chancellor Kenneth A. Shaw. “I regret that we have to cut off admissions, but we want to continue to best serve our students. We can do that better if we contain our size.”

According to Smith, this year’s numbers are an indication of the University’s growing popularity and an affirmation that the direction in which the University is headed is seen in a positive way. While the University admitted the same number of students for the Fall 2002 semester as for the Fall 2001 semester, the number of students deciding to enroll at SU has risen sharply this year. Enrollment goals were either met or exceeded in all of the University’s undergraduate divisions, Smith says.

“This is a good sign, especially with the suspicions aroused about college enrollments after Sept. 11 and because of the economic concerns that have challenged our nation over the past several months,” Smith says. “It is quite obvious that we have continued to maintain our popularity.”

Additionally, Smith noted an increase in the quality of students enrolling at the University.

Some students were accepted to SU but did not respond by a May 1 deadline, Smith says. The University will not accept deposits from those students, and staff will be available to work with them on the possibility of enrolling in either the Spring or Fall of 2003 semesters.