New Freshmen and New Transfer Student Headcount Up at Western Illinois University
MACOMB/Moline, IL – Western Illinois University’s spring-to-spring new freshmen class has increased 18.18% from Spring 2022 to Spring 2023, and new transfer students have increased 18.75%, according to 10th-day data released by WIU’s Institutional Research and Planning. International student enrollment and graduate enrollment also increased, with total international undergraduate headcount at 191, compared to 120 in Spring 2022, and an increase of 59.17%. International graduate student enrollment increased 25.79% from Spring 2022. Overall, enrollment will remain flat with all factors considered, including return rates of students.
“Enrollment and retention have been, and will remain, two of my major focuses since coming to Western two years ago. Thanks to the efforts of many teams and individuals on campus, we continue to move in the right direction with our enrollment,” WIU President Guiyou Huang said.
Students in bookstore gear September ’22
Undergraduate Admissions continues to find the best ways to provide prospective students an in-depth look at WIU on both the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses, such as Discover Western preview days, daily visit/campus tours, QC Welcome Wednesdays, a series of transfer student focused events and various activities partnering with academic programs. Admissions also continues to connect with high numbers of students during off-campus visits at community colleges and high schools.
“We know our students have a plethora of incredible options for college. I welcome everyone to consider WIU and come to campus and meet us. We are so excited to welcome the students who chose WIU this spring,” Vice President for Enrollment Management Amber Schultz said.
Everyone at the University is working together to continue to improve retention efforts, leveraging predictive analytics to help pinpoint students who need additional support and improving communication to ensure the students who need additional support are connected to the services they need most.
“We will continue to focus on providing student-centered programs and services, with innovative teaching and hands-on, real-world experience for students, and offering extensive scholarship opportunities to make our education experience accessible and meaningful to everyone,” Huang added.
