Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Developers donate 14 acres to Talent for open space ... Ashland Climate Challenge kicks off with lunch, speeches at Armory ... Snow settles on passes as cold front hits Southern Oregon ... Developers donate 14 acres to Talent for open space ... Ashland Climate Challenge kicks off with lunch, speeches at Armory ... Snow settles on passes as cold front hits Southern Oregon ... OUR VIEW Our View: SOU by the numbers Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Nov. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Nov. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Southern Oregon University is going through some tough times at the moment, with a budget-cutting retrenchment plan slicing off low-enrollment majors and minors and eliminating faculty positions. Those moves have not been popular with some staff and students, but the university is clearly doing something right. We say that because the fall 2015 enrollment numbers turned out surprisingly strong. The retrenchment had been predicted to hurt enrollment, with overall numbers declining. Instead, total enrollment rose slightly, a 0.2 percent increase. More encouraging was the number for the new freshman class, which is up 17 percent over last year. It's the the biggest entering class since 2003 and the second largest in 20 years. Even more encouraging than the new entrants are the retention figures. SOU has been making a concerted effort to keep students from leaving before completing a degree, and that work is paying off. Of the 2014 freshman class, 72 percent returned this fall, a slight dip from last year's number but still well above the 66 percent to 68 percent level of the previous several years. Retention was 76 percent for the entire student body. Another bright spot in the fall numbers is the 7.4 percent increase in out-of-state students, who pay higher tuition than Oregon residents, which is good for the university's budget. Even with regular tuition increases, SOU remains the second most affordable of Oregon's seven universities. That, combined with Ashland's quality of life and a strong academic program, should serve the campus well. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Nov. 13, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501