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MUNCIE—Ball State University won't see the freshman boom that's causing space crunches at Butler and Purdue
universities this fall. But officials say the incoming students will make up in quality what they lack in quantity.
Freshman enrollment at Ball State is down from last year's 3,871 students, though university officials don't yet
have a firm headcount. But spokesman Tony Proudfoot says those coming in have higher SAT scores and are more likely to have
earned an academic honors diploma in high school than past classes.
"This year, our primary goal has been based on quality," Proudfoot said. "We're about where we want to
be as far as headcount, maybe a few less, but we're about where we want to be."
Ball State expects its overall enrollment to increase by about 300 students for the 2010-2011 school year.
Proudfoot said the university wants to focus on students who can stick out a degree program and graduate.
"Strong students are more likely to persist," he said. "A strong freshman class pays off not only in the first
year, but in persistence over the long term."
Other schools are trying to balance both needs as freshman class sizes swell.
Butler University is facing space shortages as it expects its largest freshman class on record. With nearly 1,100 projected
new students, Butler plans to house three students in rooms designed for two and will move some sophomores out of dormitories
and into apartments. The university spent about $170,000 on extra furnishings to house the students.
Purdue University says the number of students seeking dorm rooms outnumbers the beds available.
Ivy Tech expects to see an 11.2 percent boost on its Muncie campus from a year ago, said Betty Wingrove, executive director
of marketing and communications for the community college system.
State Higher Education Commissioner Teresa Lubbers says the enrollment spikes are the result of disappearing blue-collar
jobs in the current economy.
"Those students know that with this economy, the kinds of jobs that are going to come out on the other side are jobs
that require education," Lubbers said.
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