BVU Announces Enrollment Increases, Promises for Student Success
Buena Vista University has started the fall semester with a total of 2,322 students enrolled at the Storm Lake campus and its Graduate & Professional Studies program, which has 16 locations throughout Iowa and online.
Buena Vista University has started the fall semester with a total of 2,322 students enrolled at the Storm Lake campus and its Graduate & Professional Studies (GPS) program, which has 16 locations throughout Iowa and online.
Of the 2,322 total students enrolled for the 2015-16 academic year, there are 881 undergraduate students at the Storm Lake campus, which is an increase of more than 20 first-year and transfer students over last year. The GPS program has 1,441 undergraduate and graduate students, with the graduate program showing continued growth, increasing by 84 students.
The retention rate of first year to second year students of the Fall 2014 cohort was 77 percent, which is the highest retention rate in 17 years. The increase in retention numbers underscores the success of BVU's efforts to recruit and attract students who are a good fit for BVU.
Campus visits were also on the rise this year, with individual prospective student visits to the Storm Lake campus increasing to 779 versus 660 last year.
"Higher education is a competitive marketplace, and we are pleased that BVU has increased its enrollment numbers in this environment," said BVU President Fred Moore. "The continued growth of our graduate programs, an increase in prospective students visiting our campus and our improved retention rates show that students and their families recognize the value of a BVU degree."
This fall, BVU is beginning to promote its new TruePromise program, which is comprised of three promises focused on overall student success. TruePromise promises students that they will locate a meaningful internship, earn at least one major within four years and secure a job or entrance to graduate/professional school within six months of graduation. Starting in Fall 2016, incoming first-year Storm Lake campus students will be eligible for TruePromise and will have specific benchmarks to meet to ensure they qualify throughout their academic career.
"We believe BVU is the only university in the nation to offer a promise like this to its students, and we are excited to formalize our relentless support of students into a promise with this program," said Mike Frantz, vice president of enrollment management. "If a student doesn't find an external internship, BVU will arrange an on-campus internship within the student's area of interest. If a student doesn't graduate within four years, due to the number of courses required, BVU will fund tuition for an additional semester at BVU. If a student doesn't secure a job or enter graduate or professional school after graduation, BVU will fund one semester of classes toward a BVU master's degree or toward extra BVU coursework, chosen by the student, in order to improve his or her resume."
This fall also marks a milestone for the GPS program, as by October 2015, all GPS site locations will be equipped with a Cisco TelePresence system. This two-way audio and video technology adds additional flexibility to the GPS program by giving students access to instructors across the state, as it enables students and educators who are geographically separated to experience an enhanced distance classroom experience. Implementation of the technology at the locations began a few years ago with support from donors and alumni.
