Enrollment Services

The following offices comprise the Division of Enrollment Services:

Teaching and Learning

  • In Fall 2007, the campus established a record credit hour enrollment for the twelfth year in a row.
  • Fall 2007 student headcount increased over the previous year and was the fourth highest headcount in IUPUI history. The top four are all within 99 heads.
  • The number of Fall 2007 beginner applicants (up 13.3 percent over 2006) and admits (up 12.4 percent) set campus records. 
  • The number of transfer applications for the Fall of 2007 was the second highest on record and the number of transfer admits set a record.
  • For Fall 2008, IUPUI beginning student applications for admission increased 11.5 percent over 2007 and the number of students admitted increased 9.3 percent.   The number of applications and admissions for beginning students eclipsed 2007’s record highs.
  • IUPUI continues to attract highly qualified students.  For the Fall of 2008:
    • The average SAT for admitted students is 1011, up 11 points over last year. The average high school rank climbed two percentile points to 70, and the average high school GPA was 3.26, up from 3.21.
    • The number of admitted students in the top 10 percent of their high school class has increased 13.6 percent this year.  Those in the top one-third of their class increased 12.8 percent and constitute 64.3 percent of the admitted class. 
  • Admission to the campus is increasingly competitive, with only 67.1 percent of applicants admitted.  This compares with 73.4 percent in the Fall of 2005.
  • Participation in the Summer Preparatory Program in Mathematics (SPPM) grew from 63 students in 2007 to 190 students in 2008.  Enrollment in this program is required for applicants who in the past would have been admitted conditionally.  Successful completion of the SPPM is now required in order for these students to be admitted for the fall. 
  • The division served 14,059 visitors through daily visitors and group programs.
  • The division designed and implemented the initial phase of a plan to support the Enrollment Shaping Initiative.
  • The Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the Enrollment Center, and the Office of Campus Visits have been combined into one unit:  The Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
  • 10,512 departmental, campus, athletic, and private-sector scholarships, fellowships, and grants were awarded through the Scholarships Office in 2007-08, an increase of 3,083 awards (41.5 percent) over 2006-07.  These awards totaled $26,090,640, an increase of over $11 million (73.9 percent).
  • We raised our total scholarship acceptance rate for incoming freshmen from a 49 percent average (2007-2008) to a 50 percent average (2008-2009).  This increase was aided by the introduction of new non-resident scholarships, which caused non-resident acceptances to rise from 22 to 90. The Office of Student Scholarships (OSS) also was able to offer Housing Stipends (25 percent acceptance rate) and Study Abroad Stipends (50 percent acceptance rate) to our most exceptional students.  For a list of scholarships available to entering and continuing students, visit the Office of Student Scholarships.
  • IUPUI launched a $2.1 million annual need-based scholarship initiative that will help pay college expenses for every eligible incoming freshman who has received a state Twenty-First Century Scholar award or a federal Pell Grant, beginning in the fall of 2008. 
  • In an effort to increase the amount of merit-based aid that includes consideration of financial need, the total amount of merit incentive grants increased from $68,000 in 2006-2007 to $103,000 in 2007-2008 (52 percent increase).
  • Due to an increased commitment to high-ability in-state recruitment efforts, the acceptance rates for the Academic Excellence Scholarship (45 percent compared 39 percent the previous year), the Dean of Faculties Scholarship (55 percent compared 49 percent the previous year), and the Valedictorian/Salutatorian Scholarship (61 perccent compared 49 percent the previous year) have all increased.
  • OSS conducted a scholarships workshop at the 5th Annual Scholarship & College Fair hosted by 100 Black Men of Indianapolis. The workshop was attended by approximately 15 minority families who received information on scholarships and financial aid.
  • OSS continued its successful Plater Distinguished Scholars program introduced last year. Eleven offers were made and nine awards were accepted (an acceptance rate of 81 percent), including two international students.
  • OSS partnered with Undergraduate Admissions and the Office of Multicultural Outreach to conduct a workshop and panel for Project Stepping Stone at Ball State University. Over 50 students of Hispanic descent received information on IUPUI admissions-based and competitive scholarships, as well as private sector scholarship opportunities.
  • Passport partnered with Ivy Tech Community College and University College to create a shared learning community for students planning to transfer to IUPUI and IUPUI first- year students.

Civic Engagement

  • Admissions conducted a three-day program, Step onto Campus, which brought 2,160 people to campus from 103 high schools across the state.  This was nearly double the 1,100 participants the previous year.
  • IUPUI continues its active participation in the Commission for Higher Education’s Statewide Transfers and Articulation Committee (STAC).  In addition to fostering course and degree articulation among the state’s two-year and senior institutions, STAC also manages the development of TransferIN, a new Web site through which students can see how courses will transfer and apply toward meeting degree requirements at different Indiana institutions.  
  • Fifty-six degree articulations are in place with Ivy Tech Community College and 41 with Vincennes University.  These agreements enable students who have completed an associate degree to readily move into a baccalaureate program at IUPUI.  The articulations address how courses will transfer and apply toward the degree.  Some agreements cover multiple majors articulating with an IUPUI degree.  An example is an articulation for seven different majors in business at Vincennes with the Kelley Business Administration degree. More articulations are in the development phase.
  • IUPUI Scholars provided over 5000 hours of volunteer service to the Indianapolis community during the 07-08 year, an increase of 13.6 percent over the previous year.
  • Thirteen IUPUI Financial Aid staff members participated in College Goal Sunday in February 2008.  This is the largest number of volunteers from any institution in the Indianapolis area. College Goal Sunday is a statewide program offered by college and university financial aid administrators to help students and their families complete financial aid applications.

Diversity

  • Total minority enrollment in the Fall of 2007 increased 3.3 percent over the previous year.  Enrollment by international students increased 19.1 percent.
  • The number of non-resident students, including international students, increased 5 percent in the Fall 2007, with non-residents constituting 9.5 percent of the total student population in 2007-2008.  This is up from 9.1 percent the previous year.
  • The division designed and implemented a new communication stream targeting students from diverse backgrounds based on ethnicity, parental education, and citizenship.
  • For Fall 2008, IUPUI increased admits from non-resident target domestic markets by 47 percent and experienced 18 percent overall growth in domestic non-resident admissions.
  • IUPUI increased beginner admits for Fall 2008 in all minority groups, both in number and as a percentage of the total admitted population.  The number of minority admits increased 20.2 percent over last year, with minorities accounting for 16.7 percent of our 2008 beginner admits.
  • International beginner admits for Fall 2008 increased 6.4 percent over last year.

Best Practices

  • The Office of Admissions has expanded its communication efforts with prospective and admitted students.  
  • The division designed and implemented communication streams to target segmented populations of prospects, applicants, and admits via letter, e-mail, phone, print publications, postcards, and the Web.
  • The division redesigned the application process to be more proactive in attracting and completing applications and to make admission decisions on the most desirable applicants more quickly.
  • High school visits increased by over 100 percent and attendance at college fairs by 33 percent, including high schools and fairs in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Washington state.
  • The division implemented a phonathon to admitted non-resident and high-ability students to improve yield from these populations.
  • Online chats with prospective students were implemented to provide immediate responses to questions.
  • The division redesigned scholarship programs to better serve institutional goals and publicized these programs.
  • Admission standards were redesigned to be more easily executed and communicated to prospective students and counselors.
  • The division continued to work with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education on the eTranscript and TransferIN initiatives.
  • The number of students applying for admission online increased.  Fifty-nine percent of beginning students applied online for Fall 2008.  This compares with 34 percent two years earlier. Including transfer students, 63 percent of the total undergraduate applicant pool applied online for 2008. Online applications are more convenient for students and allow for faster admissions decisions.
  • Student Financial Aid Services packaged awards for incoming freshmen by March 7.  This was a week earlier than last year and seven weeks earlier than for the 2004-05 academic year.  Earlier notification of awards provides prospective students quicker information to help them make their enrollment decision.  Earlier information generally contributes to higher enrollments.
  • The number of students submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the March priority deadline continues to improve with 16,761 applications received on time for the 2008-09 academic year.  This is a 27 percent increase over the number of applications submitted on time last year.  Students meeting this deadline are in a better position to receive the full range of grant aid for which they may be eligible.
  • Financial Aid participated in the two-day “moving in” process at the campus housing and brought financial aid representatives to the students moving into Ball Residence and the campus apartments to assist with any questions.
  • Financial Aid collaborated with Marketing and Communications, Student Scholarships, and the Bursar to create a new financial aid handbook for students at IUPUI.  All new students receive the handbook in their orientation materials.
  • Enrollment Services offices completed an upgrade to new Student Information System software
    • Delivered new functionality including a redesign of self-service/Onestart, Student Center, Administrative Center, Faculty Center, Academic Planner, Shopping Cart, and Registration/Drop/Add.  These changes make it easier for students and faculty to conduct administrative activities with the university and reduce the necessity of making in-person visits during traditional business hours.
    • Coordinated development of seven new IU Information Environment report objects in response to needs presented by academic units.  This allows the schools to do their work more quickly and effectively.
  • The Registrar added a “tip sheet” to the University College Administrative Withdrawal roster delivery to concisely outline the process to faculty, making it clearer and resulting in faster/better turnaround and feedback.
  • Registrar staff assisted in the design and implementation of the Indiana University Emergency Notification system (IU Notify) and continue to participate in the campus IU Notify team. 
  • In an effort to continue to improve campus orientation efforts, Enrollment Services offices provided training to University College Orientation Leaders on the new OneStart, IUNotify, Student Center, and Registration.
  • The Registrar designed, documented, and implemented the IUPUI Grade Forgiveness business process so the campus could begin to take full advantage of this SIS enhancement.
  • For the University College Advising Workshop on Legal and Ethical Issues for Advisors, the Registrar presented an overview of federal student privacy law (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act—FERPA), designed specifically from an advisor’s point of view.    
  • Enrollment Services assisted Information Management and Institutional Research (IMIR) in the development of the single Gateway Web site, which contains links to reports prepared by a number of campus and university offices.  The Web site greatly simplifies access to data on students and other groups. Training on use of the site was provided to the schools. 
  • The Office of the Registrar implemented electronic grade change (eGradeChange) on the IUPUI campus.  This service has been very well-received, saving countless staff hours for both the academic and service units.
  • The Office of the Registrar partnered with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) to provide enrollment verification information for loan deferment to lenders.  Student enrollment files are sent numerous times each semester and these data are used to share information between the NSC and various lenders, taking the student and the institution out of the middle.  This partnership has increased deferment and enrollment status efficiency.  In addition, information about what has been shared with lenders is available to students 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year from the NSC Web site. 
  • In June 2008, the Office of the Registrar partnered with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) to provide degree verification services.  In one month live with this service, 133 degree verifications were successfully processed via the NSC website.  This partnership has made the verification of our graduates more efficient for all involved, providing information much more quickly for those who need it.   Information about what has been verified with external agencies is available all hours of every day from the NSC Web site.  
  • The Enrollment Verification and Degree Verification initiatives have also allowed IUPUI to participate in Student Tracker services through NSC at no charge.  Using Student Tracker, we are now able to determine where admitted students who did not enroll decided to attend as well as to which schools our students might be transferring.  This is valuable information for admissions and for various retention initiatives. 
  • The Registrar began printing Purdue University diplomas in-house (337 for December 07; 561 for Spring 08; total = 898).  This resulted in cost savings, as well as gains in efficiency for those students who need duplicate diplomas printed.  In the coming year, we plan to investigate the possibility of producing Indiana University diplomas with this same process. 
  • The Office of Student Scholarships developed and implemented the new E-Award System, which provides a smoother awarding process for the student, since academic departments can now post students' awards directly to their financial aid accounts.
  • On August 9, 2007, Financial Aid disbursed loans totaling $40,160,898 for IUPUI and $1,532,652 for IUPUC.  This was a 20 percent increase over the previous year.   Combining all three big disbursement days at the beginning of the academic year (which includes the different days that medical and dental student disbursement occur), we disbursed $64,223,666 for IUPUI and IUPUC. This represented a 5.3 percent increase over the previous year.
  • The division partnered with University College and the Ivy Tech Transfer Center to launch a Student-to-Student Mentoring Program that partners successful transfers at IUPUI with intended transfers at Ivy Tech.

External Awards and Appointments

  • Kathy Purvis, Director of Student Financial Aid Services, is president of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association (ISFAA), the state professional association for financial aid officers.  Ms. Purvis also served as a member of the Executive Board of the Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
  • Chris Foley, Director of Undergraduate Admissions
    • AACRAO, International Publications Advisory Committee, member
    • NCAA, Foreign Student Records Committee
  • Pamela Meredith, Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions
    • IACAC Admissions Practices Chair
  • Matthew Moody, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions
    • IACAC Professional Development Committee
  • Stella Anderson, Associate Registrar
    • IACRAO, Local Arrangements chair for 2007 annual meeting
    • IACRAO, Local Arrangements Committee for 2008 Great Lakes Regional Meeting
  • Mary Beth Myers, Registrar
    • IACRAO Local Arrangements Committee 2007
  • Tom May, Associate Registrar
    • IACRAO Communications Committee chair
  • Avery Nelson, Registrar Web master
    • IACRAO Communications Committee
  • IUPUI hosts the IACRAO Website
  • Sara Owen, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
    •  ISFAA Listserv chair
  • Kim Lewis, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
    • ISFAA Archives Chair
    • ISFAA Early Awareness Chair
  • Chuck Ranard, Associate Director of Financial Aid
    • ISFAA Winter Conference Program Chair
  • Beth Armstrong, Associate Director of Financial Aid
    • ISFAA Agency Coordination Chair
  • Heather Penn, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
    • ISFAA Pat Wilson Scholarship Chair
  • Marilee Taylor, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
    • ISFAA Training Chair
  • Chris Foley, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, worked with various professional organizations to publish The Bologna Process (contributing editor, supplement to the International Educator), “An Impossible Dream?  The Efficacy of Using Rankings to Improve the Perception of a Non-OECD Country’s Educational System” (author, published in College and University Journal), “From Complex Data to Actionable Information:  Institutional Research Supporting Enrollment Management” (co-author, published in New Directions for Institutional Research), and The Educational System of the Russian Federation (editor, book published by AACRAO). 

The Bologna Process was established to encourage transfer among European colleges and universities and has since spread to other countries.  Since many students who study under the Bologna accords will later enroll at U.S. institutions, especially for graduate study, a good understanding of the system is required for reviewing applications for admissions.