Transfer students compensate for dropout rates

Of about 3,300 freshmen, about 18 percent will not graduate, according to the director of admissions.
Michael Walsh said the first two academic years is when most students, roughly 600, drop out.

However, the students that do not graduate are replaced with the admittance of transfer students.

"Because not all students graduate in four years, its not that clear-cut," Walsh said. On average, 60 percent graduate in four years, 70 percent in five years and 82 percent in six years.

Fred Hilton, director of media relations, refers to the trend as stabilizing enrollment. Not to be confused with a quota system, stabilizing enrollment, to an extent, ensures a balance in the number of incoming students and the students who will be graduating Hilton said.

In 1995, JMU had about 3,000 freshmen enrolled over a five-year period, according to Hilton. However, during that time, there was a shortage of colleges in the Commonwealth of Virginia to accommodate the growing number of students seeking higher education. As a result, student enrollment was increased to build JMU’s resources.

This last year, JMU accepted more than 3,300 freshmen, according to the 2003 JMU statistical summary. The numbers are going to vary from year to year and range from 3,200 to 3,300, including part-time students and graduate students, Walsh said.

Hilton said, "Although we are clearly understaffed, our annual operational budget was much better this year."