Because of the chancellor's interest in increasing the enrollments of graduate students, the questionnaires to the assistants and directors asked about ideal size of each department's graduate program and potential for growth, as well as number of inquiries, applications, admits, and yield. Improving our ability to respond to potential applicants and improving and speeding up our process would enhance our ability to attract new graduate students. However, there are other factors that influence graduate enrollments. In some departments, a poor job market for those with graduate degrees keeps students from applying, E.G., English, French, History, Philosophy. Some departments reported they could grow by admitting more foreign students if we can provide relief from non-resident tuition and improve the speed of processing foreign applicants.
Housing is expensive in Boulder.
Many graduate directors report that graduate students need personal funds or loans to supplement our financial aid awards. Recommendations Strengthen the role and responsibility of the Graduate School in all aspects of the admissions process. Make the Graduate School a central source of information for prospective graduate students, and responsible for general information about the University for all graduate applicants. The Graduate School could also work with departments to develop standardized email responses and designs for effective web sites. Charge the Graduate School with improving the graduate admissions process.