UC Reports Gains in Retention, Transfer Students, International Recruitment

The University of Cincinnati’s total enrollment for 2012 is 41,970, down 1.1 percent from the record enrollment of UC’s entire history reported last year (42,421). Final figures are reported to the state this week.

As expected, UC is seeing gains from its international student recruitment efforts, where UC is leading trends in building a global campus. UC’s international students number 2,600 – up 9.1 percent over last year. International undergraduate enrollment is at 832, up 23.6 percent from last year. Through its website, UC now offers virtual tours in

11 different languages.

UC also welcomed 1,970 new undergraduate transfer students – up 16.8 percent from autumn 2011.

UC is also reporting slight gains in undergraduate enrollment for baccalaureate degree-seeking students on the Uptown Campus – 23,096, up 0.9 percent (203 students) over last year. That same population is reflecting success in retention. The baccalaureate degree-seeking freshman retention rate for the 2011 cohort returning autumn 2012 is improved to 86 percent, compared with 85 percent for the 2010 cohort returning autumn 2011.

Caroline Miller, associate provost and senior vice president for enrollment management, says the uptick in retention also reflects UC’s smooth transition in converting from an academic quarter calendar to a semester calendar this fall, in accordance with the University System of Ohio’s strategic plan for higher education.

“UC began preparing for that transition in 2008, and I believe that all the attention to making this a smooth transition for students is reflected in student retention,” Miller says. “Plus, the emphasis on individual advising plans – agreements that track and support students on their path to completing their college degrees – is demonstrating that UC truly cares about student success,” says Miller.