Office of Public Relations

Pomona, NJ 08240

 

Richard Stockton College Spring Enrollment Figures Reflect Controlled Growth

 

College Keeps Pace with Planned Expansion of Student Body

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, February 16, 2005

Contacts: Tim Kelly

Stockton Public Relations

(609) 652-4950

 

Kim McCabe

Student Affairs Communications

(609) 652-4866

 

GALLOWAY TWP. - The Richard Stockton College of New Jerseys enrollment figures announced for the spring semester that started in January 2005, successfully address the capacity and growth issues facing the College. In doing so, the college maintained controlled growth while keeping academic excellence, fiscal responsibility and accessibility to New Jersey students uppermost in the process.

 

Stockton welcomed nearly 600 new undergraduate students to its student body this semester, and also saw an increase in new students to its graduate programs. While this represents an increase over last spring, it is consistent with the plan of the Board of Trustees and President Herman J. Saatkamp, Jr., announced last fall, to meet the increasing demand for a Stockton education and the growing popularity of the Atlantic County-based College.

 

This monitored growth was accomplished through careful planning by the Office of Enrollment Management, which oversees the strategy of recruiting and enrolling quality students into its undergraduate and master programs at a controlled pace, said Joseph Marchetti, Vice President, Student Affairs. The new students join our returning ones to form a student body size the college is prepared to accommodate.

 

Total college enrollment for spring 2005 is 6,689, up from the 6,620 enrolled in spring 2004. The total undergraduate enrollment is 6,272. There are a total of 417 graduate students enrolled in Stocktons seven graduate programs, including the new Master of Arts in Education program. According to Stocktons Office of Institutional Research, the

 

percentage of graduate growth outpaced that of undergraduate growth, another enrollment strategy designed by the college administration.

 

The admissions office successfully increased our student body in a manner that supports Stocktons mission and its goal of planned expansion, said Sal Catalfamo, Dean of Enrollment Management. The college continues to grow at a rate that ensures each student receives the quality support services and personal attention that he or she deserves.

 

Stockton, nestled in 1,600 acres in the Southern New Jersey Pinelands, is also located just a 15 minute drive from the popular beach resorts. It was rated among the top five public liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report in 2004 for the third time in the last five years. Stockton offers many of the educational benefits found in private colleges and the cultural benefits of a public university. It also has one of the lowest tuition costs in the state. As a result, Stockton has grown in recent years and has faced capacity issues.

 

Last fall, the Trustees and President Saatkamp outlined a three-pronged recommendation to move forward with a controlled growth plan for the college:

 

         Capacity: Undergraduate fulltime equivalent student growth is to be capped at three percent per year through fiscal 2009. Teacher-student ratio is to be improved from 20-1 to a target of 16-1 through new faculty positions.

         Facilities: The first phase of the campus facilities master plan includes the overbuild project of F-Wing to add classroom and faculty office space. The initial phase will include a College center, parking garage and infrastructure improvements.

         Academic and financial support structure: This recommendation would involve the implementation of the college development plan, including the establishment of an Annual Campaign and building endowments. The college will strive to increase student aid proportionate to increases in tuition and fees. Faculty development initiatives will also be stressed. An honors program, freshman year experience program and other student life enhancements will be implemented. Staff support is to be increased to match the expected growth in student body and faculty.

 

President Saatkamp has stressed that the planning models outlined are based on the best information currently available and are subject to change.

 

We believe these planning models are an excellent step forward for the future of the College, he said. Although subject to adaptation, they formulate the basis for the beginning of responsible, sustainable growth of our campus and student body. These numbers released by Academic Affairs certainly reflect the plan and show we are off to a fine start.