The Enrollment & Retention Management Division has several websites to share for the latest Enrollment and Retention Management information. These sites have many updated links and include a current version of the ERM Strategic Plan, as well as an updated Admissions Recruitment Plan.
Spring 2024 final enrollment numbers 6.2% increase
For the fifth semester in a row, census numbers show that more students are attending the University of Illinois Springfield. After the first 10 days of classes, a total of 4,362 students enrolled for Spring Semester 2024, an increase of 6.21% from 4,107 students in Spring 2023.
Graduate enrollment also saw a 15.6% increase.
Illinois residents account for 68% of the students attending UIS this semester.
UIS saw an increase in the number of students from all demographics taking classes this fall. There are 1,005 international students enrolled at UIS (22% of the student body), compared to 645 in fall 2022. Black or African American students make up about 12% of the total UIS population, followed by Hispanic students at 8% and Asian students at 4%.
Office of Admissions Processing
The Office of Admissions Processing is responsible for functions related to application processing and review, course credit evaluation, credential processing, and transfer agreements.
- Processing: After the start of the Fall 2023 semester, we processed on average 80 applications a week through the end of December.
- Evaluations: After the start of the Fall 2023 semester, we evaluated for admission an average of 158 first year, 7 transfer and 170 graduate applications per week through the end of December.
- Transfer Agreements: We have attended several transfer exploration nights with the U of I System, UIC, and UIUC in partnership with area high schools and corresponding district community colleges in an attempt to reach students earlier. In addition, we (U of I System, UIC and UIUC) met with Elgin Community College and Lincoln Land Community College this fall to discuss strengthening transfer partnerships. We attended the Illinois Transfer Coordinators meeting in November and received updates on statewide initiatives and pending legislation. We also met one on one with the Transfer Coordinator at Harper College to discuss future partnerships and potential programs that UIS can offer in their University Center. We continue to work on building more equivalent courses with all of the Illinois community colleges and we’ve started meeting with program chairs to discuss ways we can partner together to improve the UIS transfer experience.
Please address any questions or concerns regarding application processing and evaluations to admprocessing@uis.edu or (217) 206-6600.
Office of Admissions Recruitment
Time for University Admission Yield Work
Admission offices are often seen as gatekeepers, standing between applicants and their academic goals. But what happens after that acceptance letter lands in a student's inbox? The yield work begins, a crucial yet sometimes overlooked aspect of the higher education journey.
What is yield?
Yield, in admissions terms, refers to the percentage of admitted students who choose to enroll at a particular university. A high yield means that more students are choosing our institution over others, signifying a strong academic reputation, vibrant campus life, and effective recruitment strategies.
Why is yield work important?
A healthy yield isn't just a vanity metric. It has tangible benefits for the university and student:
- For the university: A higher yield ensures a full incoming class, leading to financial stability, optimal class sizes, and a diverse and engaged student body.
- For the student: A well-managed yield process helps students make informed decisions, find the right academic fit, and feel confident about their chosen path.
The Art of Yielding: Strategies for Success
So, how do we cultivate commitment and entice admitted students to choose UIS over other options? Here are some key strategies:
- Financial aid optimization: Offering competitive scholarships and need-based aid packages significantly impacts a student's decision.
- Showcasing the experience: Virtual tours, interactive webinars, and personalized campus visits bring the university to life, fostering a sense of connection and belonging.
- Building relationships: Prompt communication, dedicated advisors, and personalized outreach make students feel valued and supported throughout the enrollment process.
- Harnessing the power of community: Connecting admitted students with current students, alumni, and faculty mentors creates a sense of belonging and excitement for the future.
Yield work is a complex and nuanced endeavor, but its rewards are substantial. By understanding the factors that influence student choice and implementing effective strategies, we can cultivate a thriving and engaged student body, setting the stage for a successful academic journey.
Call to Action - What can YOU do?
- Call admitted students to put a personal touch on what your program offers and the care you have for them.
- Connect admitted students to current students.
- Current student stories: Do you have a current student who would give a quote, testimonial, or do a video with admission.
- Provide an email that admission can send to parents.
Remember, successful yield isn't just about filling seats; it's about creating a community where students can thrive and reach their full potential.
Office of Financial Aid
Donor-funded scholarship application
The 2024-25 scholarship application is live and the deadline for students to apply is noon CST on February 15, 2024. Committees have been meeting to receive preliminary information and a timeline for the selection and awarding process. The goal is for financial aid to provide selection committees with their scholarship pools by the end of the day on March 15, 2024. We are asking for selections to be submitted by April 22, 2024. This allows our office adequate time to review and select alternate recipients as needed, and provide scholarship offer notifications to students as timely as possible.
FAFSA Simplification 2024-25
The 2024-25 revamped, simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was launched by Federal Student Aid (FSA) on December 31, 2023. This is almost three months later than the normal launch data of October 1. Since this was a brand-new application, FSA called it a “soft launch,” with plenty of downtime and maintenance. If you would like to learn more about the new FAFSA and the related changes, please see the Campus Partners Brief provided by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).
We encourage students and families to apply as soon as possible. At this time, the application should be available for students 24/7, rather than limited access, with some known issues. Visit the FAFSA Issue Alerts website for details on known issues. Schools are not yet receiving FAFSA data files from FSA, and at the earliest, we will begin receiving data sometime in March. Therefore, our timeline for processing applications and providing aid offers to students for 2024-25 is considerably impacted and delayed. We will do our very best to provide students with information as soon as we can; however, we must ensure that we are providing accurate information. Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.
Office of Records and Registration
The Office of Records and Registration (also known as the Office of the Registrar) consists of a number of areas responsible for a variety of duties. Listed below are a few updates from the various subunits within the Office of Records and Registration:
- Catalog/Scheduling: The 2024-25 UIS Catalog deadline was February 1st for changes to existing programs. There is still time for new programs to be added to the addendum. Course schedules for Summer/Fall 2024 will be available on March 15 https://www.uis.edu/registrar/course-schedules-catalogs.
- Degree Audits: Working with the Office of Admissions Processing to continue the efforts on improving course-to-course articulations and transferability for incoming students. Donna Bull is the newest addition to the degree audit area.
- Grading/Records: Mid-term and First-half grading for the Spring 2024 semester will begin in the next few weeks, with the deadline to have all grades submitted electronically by Noon on Wednesday, March 13.
- Registration: Registration for Summer/Fall 2024 courses begins in April. April 1st for Priority registration and April 8th for new students. Please encourage students to register as soon as possible before classes fill up or get canceled due to a lack of enrollment.
- Tuition/Fees: Tuition, fee, and assessment amounts for Spring 2024 are available on the Tuition and Fee website https://www.uis.edu/registrar/tuition-fees. The tuition calculator is being revamped and scheduled to go live in 2024.
- Graduation: Students graduating in Spring 2024 or Summer 2024 must submit an online graduation application via student self-service by February 16. For Summer 2024 graduates wishing to participate in Commencement 2024 activities must submit a Student Petition and have it approved by their advisor and department chair by February 16.
Please address any questions or concerns regarding registrar-related functions to registrar@uis.edu or (217) 206-6174.
Stop by the UHB Admissions Lobby anytime. Contact us at ENROLLMGMT@uis.edu.