Fall 2020 Census Date Enrollment

Dear Colleagues,

I hope this message finds you well. I’m happy to share some good news with you.

Despite the many challenges facing our communities, we have achieved record enrollment here at the fall census date: 16,441 total students compared to 15,839 on this date last year, a 3.8% increase.

In the table below, you can see the greatest gains came from dual enrollment (high school students earning college credits through Texas Woman’s but taught at their school), graduate enrollment, and especially continuing students from across the segments. The continuing student growth is a particular testament to your efforts. From all you did to accommodate student needs during the spring transition to fully online courses to continuous improvement in infrastructure, teaching and learning, research, and support for students with a wide gamut of ambitions, we are retaining students better than ever.

Our decrease in new undergraduates is on par with many peer institutions, but the number of new transfer students actually decreased much less than at other universities, which speaks to our legacy of support for transfer students. Still, these segments are like a canary in a coal mine. When we have fewer new students, the implications can ripple through six years. We also need to temper the good news with a critical look at the effects of dual enrollment growth. This segment of students help the state meet its strategic education goals, but they disproportionately impact the workload of a few departments and do not currently contribute to Texas Woman’s financial vitality.

A table showing a 3.8 percent total enrollment growth from last year, many of it from graduate students.

I especially want to thank the Strategic Enrollment Management Committee chaired by Dr. Monica Mendez-Grant. This team is leading new investment in strategies and practices that will take us beyond even the enrollment goals set in Learn to Thrive: Strategic Plan 2022. Dr. Mendez-Grant plans to share more details about enrollment with you from the perspective of the cross-divisional committee she chairs.

From my vantage point, I am proud to serve alongside you as we continue to advance the mission of Texas Woman’s University.

With a pioneering spirit,

Carine M. Feyten, Ph.D.
Chancellor and President

Page last updated 10:45 AM, September 10, 2020