Indiana University Northwest announced that student enrollment for Fall 2012 stands at 6,184 students, an all-time high and a nearly 2.5 percent increase over last year’s fall enrollment of 6,035 students. This year marks IU Northwest’s fifth consecutive year of increased enrollment.

IU Northwest is among four IU campuses that welcomed a record number of students this fall, which contributed to the historic university-wide enrollment of 102,067 students.

“Our fall enrollment of nearly 6,200 students demonstrates that our campus provides the high-quality, affordable education to which Indiana University is committed and is a strong example of the vitality and critical role of IU’s regional campuses,” said IU Northwest Chancellor William J. Lowe. “From the full-time undergraduate student, to the adult learner who takes a course or two each semester, and the high school student who is enrolled through our Early College programs, we work to provide all of them with a world-class IU education that works for them.”

The Northwest campus attributes the increase in students to the campus’s strong recruitment efforts and continuing attention to supporting students through to degree completion. IU Northwest also credits the recent expansion of its Early College programming to partnerships with Calumet High School, Crown Point High School, East Chicago High School, Hobart High School, Lake Central High School, Lake Station Edison High School, and Whiting High School.

Early College options through IU Northwest include courses offered in the high schools during the school day, online courses and attendance in courses at the IU Northwest campus, all at a significantly reduced tuition cost. Courses taken through the Early College program provide students with both high school and university credit.

“Increasing enrollment by high school students reflects a nationwide trend and responds directly to requests from school districts in the region, as they work to make sure that their students achieve Indiana’s standards for high school graduation and college readiness,” Lowe said. “The Early College experience enables high school students to become familiar with the demands of college-level work and earn college credit that will count toward a degree at a very affordable price.” 

Credit hours at IU Northwest are down a scant .06 percent, at 61,528, according to the official report released by Indiana University. This marks the third consecutive year in which registered credit hours topped 61,000 at IU’s Northwest campus. 

Student Ready

IU Northwest had prepared for expected enrollment increases through recent campus investments, including expanded online course offerings and instructional technology upgrades.

Seventy-seven online courses in 15 disciplines are offered this semester, a more than 40 percent increase in course offerings as compared to one year ago. Additional online courses are planned for the coming semester.

“Our commitment to online learning at IU Northwest is an investment in making an Indiana University education accessible for the citizens of Northwest Indiana, through an innovative and convenient option that allows students to complete their degrees in a timely manner that suits their busy lives,” Lowe said.

Additional campus investments include the newly redesigned Marram Hall Student Technology Center, complete with touchscreen computers and collaborative workspaces that provide a more integrated and innovative learning environment.

In total, the campus upgraded more than 100 computers for student use and added 60 computers and 20 work stations at which students can use their own laptop computers or other devices.

This year’s enrollment and credit hour numbers, referred to as census results, constitute IU’s official figures for 2012-13. Census counts are made one week after the start of classes, allowing for changes resulting from late registration.

Enrollment information for all IU campuses can be viewed at: http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/23057.html.