UNC Asheville's Largest Freshman Class Creates Opportunities, Challenges for Campus;
Questions About Growth to be Explored during Coming Year

UNC Asheville is preparing for the biggest and brightest freshman class in its history. This fall's freshman class is expected to number 733 and have an average SAT score of 1171. Two years ago, there were 424 entering freshmen with an average SAT score of 1159. The large class and stellar SAT average demonstrate just how "hot" the liberal arts university has become.

"Exemplary national rankings, recognition as a leader among public liberal arts universities and an effective admissions office have all played a part in moving UNC Asheville to a school of first choice for North Carolina as well as out-of-state students," said UNC Asheville Chancellor Jim Mullen.

While the influx of new students reflects the increased recognition of UNC Asheville's value, it does not signal the university's intention to become a large institution. Chancellor Mullen added, "It does invite a conversation among faculty, students, alumni and trustees about the appropriate size at which UNC Asheville can meet its responsibilities to the State of North Carolina as well as its commitment to the liberal arts, faculty-student interaction, and small class size. Our remarkable success has many implications and challenges. We intend to remain true to our liberal arts values."

This fall, UNC Asheville's University Planning Committee, made up of faculty and senior staff, will explore the possibility of future growth for the campus and make recommendations to Chancellor Mullen in spring 2005, according to Mark Padilla, UNC Asheville Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs.

"Consideration of planned growth should be seen in the context of the increasing number of high school graduates," Padilla said. A national study released in February projects a dramatic rise in graduating high school seniors as children of the baby boomers wrap up their high school careers. The study, done by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, a 15-state coalition, projects a 33 percent increase in graduating North Carolina high school seniors between 2001 and 2018. Maintaining student access to higher education is a top priority shared by the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees and the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. The 16-campus UNC system currently enrolls about 31 percent of high school seniors attending four-year colleges, and UNC President Molly Corbett Broad intends for the university system to continue to enroll between 31 and 33 percent of N.C. high school graduates attending four-year institutions.

"This enormous spike in undergraduates that the state expects cannot be absorbed entirely by other UNC institutions. We must do our share with the growing demographic picture, and we want to be proactive in our planning. If we opt for some small and controlled growth, we will do it in a manner that ensures the appropriate number of faculty, classrooms and residence halls," Padilla said.

In the interim, UNC Asheville has moved from "rolling admissions" to "deadline admissions" for the 2005-06 academic year. This method, employed by two other institutions in the UNC system, UNC Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, will allow UNC Asheville to better manage the number of students in the freshman class. With rolling admissions, all applicants who met UNC Asheville's standards were admitted; this process is used by most UNC institutions. Under deadline-based admissions, applicants must apply by March 1, and will be notified of their admission status by April 1. This will result in UNC Asheville being better able to work within the 18 percent out-of-state student admission limit mandated by the UNC System Board of Governors. "It likewise reflects the increasingly competitive nature of admission to UNC Asheville," according to Scot Schaeffer, Admissions Director.

This fall's larger number of freshmen is presenting a number of challenges and opportunities on campus.

To keep classes small while accommodating the incoming class, UNC Asheville will offer additional sections of classes and spread classes more fully throughout the day, with more 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. classes. The average class size is expected to remain constant at 19. As in other years, some courses, such as introductory chemistry and biology, will have a greater number of students in lecture portions of the class, with an average of 15 in laboratory portions.

UNC Asheville is hiring adjunct faculty for the coming year and will begin searches this fall for additional permanent faculty for the 2005-06 academic year. The UNC system funding cycle bases its allocation for faculty positions on the previous year's projected enrollment, so funds to hire new faculty will not be available until fall 2005. Adjunct faculty will be fully qualified to teach as determined by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, UNC Asheville's accrediting organization. Adjunct professors teach a maximum of two courses.

UNC Asheville is also moving ahead on providing additional parking on a campus with little room to spare. Work has begun on the Nantahala Street/Vivian Avenue parking area and on increasing capacity in several campus parking areas. A transportation planner will assist in traffic and parking planning.

Housing will also be tight this fall, but University staff are taking steps to ensure all freshmen will have a place to stay. Requests for housing currently exceed the University's 1,191 beds because of the large freshmen class and the growing popularity of residential life. The university is maximizing its number of beds and is exploring off-campus housing possibilities.

"We will successfully meet each opportunity that sometimes presents itself as a challenge. These result from an ever-increasing national recognition of UNC Asheville as a 'first choice' school," said Chancellor Mullen. "The Asheville community and its natural, cultural and health advantages are significant factors in students' decisions to attend UNC Asheville. Our students benefit from participating in the civic life and cultural diversity of the region as well as the obvious recreational, expressive and employment opportunities that abound."

Media Contact:

• Merianne Epstein, UNCA Public Information Director, 828/251-6676