Chapter 6: Support Services for Students
The Millersville University Student Body


Over three quarters of the Millersville student body are full-time undergraduates; the balance is evenly divided between part-time undergraduates and graduate students (see Chapter 1). Our overall enrollments have been fairly stable over the past five years (Figure 6-1).

Source: 1998-1999 Fact Book and Fall 1999 Enrollment Report

Admissions

Millersville is a very selective institution, admitting less than 60% of its freshman applicants (see Chapter 2). A third of our freshmen rank in the top fifth of their high school classes, and three quarters rank in the top two-fifths. The average SAT score is 1056. Our freshman applications have been steady over the past five years (Figure 6-2). Our transfer applications have been stable as well. More complete admissions statistics are on pages 7-22 of the 1998-1999 Fact Book.

Because of its mission of access and because an important part of the college experience is meeting people with different backgrounds and interests from one's own, Millersville is committed to recruiting a diverse student body. It therefore considers diversity status and evidence of special talents as well as academic records and SAT or ACT scores in admissions decisions.

While we have continued to see great success in attracting and enrolling a talented, diverse student body, the average SAT score of our entering "regular admit" freshmen has declined from 1098 in 1994 to 1080 in 1998, and recruiting talented students of color has always been a challenge. To remain competitive in an increasingly aggressive market, we retained Noel-Levitz consultants in 1998 to review our enrollment management policies and practices. The consultants made 19 recommendations to help us maintain our enrollment, improve the academic profile of entering students, increase the enrollment of high ability students of color, and increase enrollment in undersubscribed programs (Appendix 6-1).

Student Retention

Millersville's approach to retention is comprehensive and draws on the cooperation of all academic departments and administrative offices. The Enrollment Management Steering Committee, established in 1997 under the guidance of the Associate Provost for Academic Programs and Services, has developed an enrollment management plan (Appendix 6-2). Because our overall retention rates are quite high, we focus our retention efforts on enhancing the retention of students of color (see Chapter 8). Other committee goals include assessment of admissions policies, practices, and procedures and assistance for over- and under-subscribed majors.

Source: 1998-1999 Fact Book

Our enrollment management efforts are, in the aggregate, successful; Millersville has extremely strong retention and graduation rates (see Chapter 2). The rates are strong not only for our students as a whole but also for several key cohorts; six-year graduation rates for students of color are highest in the System.