University Times

Total enrollment at Pitt has increased for the sixth straight year — 34,003 students are enrolled for the fall 2002 term, an increase of 459 (1.4 percent) over last fall, according to figures released by the University this week.

Since fall 1996, Pitt's total enrollment has grown by 2,608 students (8.3 percent).

Graduate and first professional enrollment accounted for much of the rise in student numbers this fall, with an increase of 368 students, or 4.1 percent. Undergraduate enrollment also rose again, increasing on the Pittsburgh campus by 112 students, or 0.6 percent.

Enrollments increased at Pitt's Greensburg campus (from 1,758 students last fall to 1,888 in 2002) and at the Johnstown campus (from 3,096 to 3,122). Enrollments fell at Bradford (from 1,467 to 1,300) and Titusville (from 513 to 503).

James Baldwin, Bradford's registrar and assistant dean for academic affairs, attributed his campus's enrollment decline (167 students) to the loss of part-time students employed by Adelphia Communications in Coudersport, Pa. Adelphia had been paying for its employees to take half-credit computer courses at Bradford, but discontinued the practice last year in the wake of the company's financial and legal problems, said Baldwin. Full-time enrollment at the Bradford campus actually increased from 936 last fall to 974 in fall 2002, he noted.

University-wide, the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) students rose by 489 students, or 1.7 percent, from 29,612.8 last fall to 30,101.8 in fall 2002.

The number of FTE students is calculated by adding the number of full-time students to 40 percent of the number of part-time students. The conversion is used for budgeting purposes.

Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg said: "The University of Pittsburgh is celebrating ongoing, significant progress in student recruitment. One measure of our growth is the ever-increasing number of admissions applications we receive. This is wonderful news in itself. However, we have realized not only an increase in numbers of students, but in the caliber of those students enrolling in the University. This fall, we welcomed the best-qualified freshman class in our history. Today, and in the years ahead, the presence of increasing numbers of high-achieving students will continue to strengthen and enhance the learning environment for everyone."