Contact: Anthony de Bruyn, (512) 499-4363

Date: November 13, 2003

UT System News Release

AUSTIN - Student enrollment grew throughout the University of Texas System this fall, with increases of over 10 percent at four of the institutions. Administrators attributed the growth to the continuing effect of expanded recruitment and retention programs, new scholarship programs, and other factors. Also, college and university enrollment historically tends to increase during periods of a weaker economy, officials said.

"We are pleased to see continuing enrollment increases, which represent a significant expansion of educational opportunity for Texans," said Mark G. Yudof, chancellor of the U.T. System. "We are committed to wider access as well as enhancement in the quality of academic programs, so we can help the state achieve its long-term need for a more educated populace."

Enrollment at the nine general academic universities in the U.T. System rose from 159,850 last fall to 167,770, a 4.95 percent increase, according to the preliminary enrollment reports from each campus as reported to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The number of students at the six health science institutions in the U.T. System also increased, although at a lower rate because medical, dental and some other professional programs have a set number of openings each year.

U.T. Permian Basin had the largest percentage increase - 13.92 percent - based on an increase from 2,672 to 3,044. Other double-digit percentage increases were 12.4 percent at U.T. Tyler (from 4,254 to 4,783); 12 percent at U.T. San Antonio (from 22,015 to 24,665); and 10.4 percent at U.T. Pan American (from 14,392 to 15,889).

U.T. Austin reported a 1.6 percent decrease in total enrollment (from 52,261 to 51,438) following a concerted effort by university administrators to reduce the number of incoming freshmen and transfer students due to limited resources for serving such a large student population. U.T. Austin remains the nation's largest single campus institution.

Increases at the other general academic universities were 4.86 percent at U.T. Arlington (from 23,821 to 24,979); 7.3 percent at U.T. Brownsville, including Texas Southmost College (from 9,974 to 10,705); 3.75 percent at U.T. Dallas (from 13,229 to 13,725); and 7.6 percent at U.T. El Paso (from 17,232 to 18,542).

Total enrollment at the health science institutions grew 4.33 percent, from 9,763 to 10,186. Changes were as follows: U.T. Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, from 1,673 to 1,796; U.T. Health Science Center at Houston, from 3,334 to 3,442; U.T. Health Science Center at San Antonio, from 2,728 to 2,785; U.T. Medical Branch at Galveston, from 2,005 to 2,088; and U.T. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, from 59 to 75 students. The U.T. Health Center at Tyler does not enroll students of its own, although it provides specialized educational opportunities for students from other institutions.