Index of University Press Releases

Sept. 6, 2007

Academic profile of incoming students on the rise

MITCHELL – DWU enrollment is the highest it has been in about three decades, with 793 students enrolled in classes at the start of the fall semester.

“We’re excited about the academic profile of this year’s entering class,” said Amy Novak, vice president for enrollment management. “Our admissions counselors and athletic coaches were successful in recruiting more academically talented students.”

Novak also noted that the freshman-to-sophomore retention rate increased 14 percent over last year, and she attributes this to expanded facilities on campus, a better scholarship model, and more deliberate efforts to assist students early on with tutoring and mentoring resources.

DWU’s median ACT is up nearly a point over last year to 21.4 and there are 32 students with an ACT of 26 or higher. The incoming students’ GPA is an average of 3.18.

“We believe that this level of academic achievement will add to the classroom dynamics and campus environment in a positive way,” said Novak. This year’s class includes two Gates Millennial Scholars and 25 S.D. Opportunity Scholars compared to 15 S.D. Opportunity Scholars last year.

Nearly 75 percent of this year’s entering students are from South Dakota, while the remaining come from 19 different states and three foreign countries. This year’s student body also reflects an expanded international student recruitment effort with 11 students coming from Nepal, the United Kingdom and Canada.

“Exposing students to diverse cultures and perspectives is critical to a student’s long-term success in an increasingly global workforce,” said Novak.

Novak cited positive elements on campus that will continue to attract bright students. DWU’s nursing, athletic training and pre-professional programs tend to be popular with prospective students. The proven success in placing DWU grads into graduate school in the health sciences areas attracts top students from around the region. In addition, the success of some athletic programs continues to entice students to consider enrolling at Dakota Wesleyan University.

“I am optimistic about our future, despite the declining demographics in our region,” said Novak. “There are many positive things happening academically, co-curricularly, and facility-wise on our campus, and I sincerely believe students will continue to see the value of the personalized education that DWU provides.”