In one category, enrollment is actually lower than last year. We have received nine percent fewer community college transfer students than last year. This drop is the result of lower graduation rates at our Community College partners. This is a long term problem, and one which we are taking steps to help them address. More on that in a moment.
Preliminary data suggest that the number of student credit hours is about the same as last year.
We have made USF far more attractive to incoming freshmen. But we have an area of concern. Community College transfers are down. We have taken two very important and strategic steps to help our local Community Colleges, and more important, their students. Over the past several years, Community Colleges across the state have experienced a decline in graduation rates.