TAMIU Reports Slight Dip in Enrollment for Fall Semester

For the first time in recent history, Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is reporting a slight dip in Fall enrollment.  Final official enrollment numbers reported to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board show 7,192 total enrollment, a 4.7% drop over Fall 2014 (7554). An uptick in semester credit hours (SCH) to 78,096, a 1.2% increase over last Fall’s SCH (77,179) is attributed to the University’s push for student “on-time” degree completion.

Regarding the drop in enrollment, TAMIU president Dr. Ray Keck said this had been anticipated in light of a change in dual enrollment strategy by United Independent School District (UISD).

“We learned over the summer of the decision by UISD to move all dual-enrollment programs previously in place at TAMIU to the community college. Our Fall dip is roughly equal to the amount of UISD students normally allowed to participate in dual enrollment at the University. The timing of this decision provided insufficient time to recruit new students.  

“We’ve had UISD parents asking us why we’ve stopped taking their students for dual enrollment, but we make sure they understand this is strictly a UISD decision and certainly not something the University would want or encourage,” Dr. Keck explained.

He noted many found the decision unusual, as other surrounding districts, including Cotulla and Freer, actually bus students to TAMIU to ensure access to University-quality dual enrollment programs. The University is also home to two on-campus high school programs: the Laredo Independent School District’s acclaimed Early College High School and the TAMIU Academy for International and STEM Studies.

“We understand UISD parents were told the decision was strictly economic, and we can certainly appreciate that bottom-line rationale… but our willingness to provide price reductions to cover the cost of bussing students to campus  --  in addition to convenience and teaching value for UISD students -- simply wasn’t enough.  We enjoyed our association with UISD, and know its students were much advantaged by it.  We look forward to additional opportunities in the future,” Keck observed.

In part, dual enrollment over the past five years helped TAMIU sustain an average growth of 7.2%. State funding is calculated based on SCH, not enrollment.

Keck shared other statistical highlights for TAMIU Fall enrollment:

            Women outnumber men, 4,270 to 2,922 and over 82 Texas high schools are represented in the Class of 2015.

            72% of undergraduate students are full-time and 28% part-time.

            30 countries are represented in combined undergraduate/graduate enrollment and make up 3% of campus enrollment. 

            While 83% of students are from Webb County, 12.7% are from other Texas counties and 1.2% from out of State.

            The average undergraduate age is 21.4, the average graduate age 30.9 and the average doctoral age 34.8.  The youngest TAMIU student is 13, the oldest 86.

            The faculty to student ratio is 1:21 with average undergraduate class size of 34.5 and average graduate class size of 13.8.

            The College of Arts & Sciences has the highest enrollment with 4,241 students, followed by the Antonio R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business (1,298), the College of Education (1036) and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (592).

            The Top 5 Undergraduate majors are Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Psychology, Nursing and Biology.

            The Top 5 Graduate majors are Business Administration, Information Systems, School Counseling, Ed Administration and Biology.

            21 Doctoral students are enrolled.

            Undergraduate degrees and graduate degrees with the most growth are in Psychology and Information Systems, respectively.

            TAMIU Spring Registration starts Oct. 26. Spring classes begin Jan. 20, 2016.

            Last day of registration is Jan. 26. 

            For more information, please contact the Office of the Registrar at 956.326.2250.

            University office hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.  The University is closed for an authorized Thanksgiving holiday from noon Wednesday, Nov. 25 through Sunday, Nov. 29.  Offices reopen and services resume Monday at 8 a.m.

            Additional University information is available online at tamiu.edu and via  University social media sites on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.