As the final academic year in President Kupchella’s administration began, enrollment stood at nearly 2,000 higher than in his first. The University had record enrollments in six of the last nine years. Higher admission standards implemented during the past three years did impact enrollment, but these help ensure students are ready for college work and are expected to increase retention.
Graduate student enrollment increased by nearly 500, and the proportion of the student body represented by graduate students increased from 14 percent to 16 percent. For the first time, graduate students broke the 2,000 threshold in 2004.
Along with the tougher admission standards, UND began offering more scholarships to students. New Presidential Scholars increased from 100 in 1999 to 152 in 2007; over the same period, scholarship awards grew from $2.2 million
| First Lady Adele Kupchella visits with student hosts at the annual Feast of Nations. The very popular event celebrates the cultures and foods of UND’s growing and active community of international students, faculty, and staff. |
 |
in 1999 to $3.2 million. The number of scholarships for American Indian students also increased. A new initiative, the Community of Learners Scholarship, grants $1,000 each year |
(up to $4,000 total) to high-potential students. The scholarship sets the expectation that students become engaged learners who are also active on campus. The program is expected to increase enrollment and graduation rates, and enhance the campus climate.
Distance education has also increased during the Kupchella years, and UND took advantage of technology to offer more online and distance courses to more students. One of the goals of the strategic plan was to increase distance offerings. Enrollments in distance programs increased from 1,897 in 1999-2000 to 2,346 in 2006-2007.* In 1999, the University offered 16 distance degree programs or certificates, with just one fully online program. In 2007, 25 programs were offered, with 14 of them fully online.
Athletics
UND student athletes are just that: student athletes. In 18 of the last 20 semesters, these scholar-athletes earned an average GPA of 3.0 or higher.
From 1999 to 2007, UND has played in seven national championships: two in football, three in men’s hockey, and two in women’s basketball. The University won national championships in men’s Division I hockey in 2000 and Division II football in 2001.
UND is now in the process of moving all sports to NCAA Division I.
* The 2006-2007 number does not include space studies, which is no longer managed by Continuing Education; the 1999-2000 number includes 631 space studies enrollments. |
