Students are taking more credits than last year’s student body, according to an enrollment report issued by the university last Tuesday.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Office of Assessment and Institutional Research (AIR) released the report, which contains a detailed headcount of all the students at UWM. It compares enrollment information of last year’s student body to the current students. Last year, students took and average of 10.4 credits. This year, students are taking 11.4.

The report contains demographic statistics in numerous other categories spanning from race to students’ intended field of study. Here’s how the fall 2007 UWM student body looks by the numbers.

Diversity of Students

The number of Hispanic and Asian students attending UWM increased roughly three percent this year. However, student populations of other races saw a decline in the number enrolled.

Black student enrollment is down one percent this semester to roughly 1,700 students. American Indian enrollment also decreased, down to 191 students compared to 216 a year ago.

The Hmong student population remained the same, at one student.

White student enrollment increased three percent to 22,188 total students.

Chancellor Carlos E. Santiago addressed student diversity in his fall 2007 Plenary Address. Santiago said that significant additional support is needed for the university to succeed in its aspirations of student diversity.

According to Beth Weckmueller, director at AIR, UWM received more applications from students of color this year, but fewer enrolled.

“Students of color have a lot of options today,” said Weckmueller, referring to the various scholarships available to students. “Students may have applied but gone elsewhere.”

The gender gap

Weckmueller said that in the past, enrollment of women at UWM exceeded that of men. However, the gap between male and female students is steadily shrinking.

Women still outnumber men at UWM by roughly 1,500 students. In the fall of 2000, women outnumbered men by almost 2,500 according to the 2000 AIR report. This year’s incoming freshman broke the trend however.

“This year we actually have a handful more men than women enrolling in this year’s freshman class,” said Weckmueller.

By major

Before enrolling, students pick an intended major of study. This year the College of Health Sciences took in 16 percent more students, the largest increase of any UWM school.

Architecture, Letters and Science, Business and Social Welfare also saw increases in enrollment.

Education, Engineering and Nursing were the only schools to see a drop in their enrollment numbers. The School of Education experienced a decrease of three percent in enrollment.

“There’s a lot of competition in Milwaukee right now for schools of education,” said Weckmueller. “However, education is a very cyclical major and students’ numbers rise and fall.”

Students from Minnesota and Madison

Wisconsin and Minnesota engage in tuition reciprocity. Students attending UWM from Minnesota pay tuition fees equal to a resident from Wisconsin and vice versa. This year, there are eight percent more students from Minnesota than last year.

“We’ve done a little more recruitment in Minnesota this year,” said Weckmueller.

According to Weckmueller, more Minnesota students are coming to UWM since the University of Wisconsin tightened its entrance requirements.

“More and more students who view Madison as their first choice are seeing UWM as the best alternative,” said Weckmueller.

Weckmueller said that the area around Madison is also the home of a growing number of UWM students.

“The strongest area in terms of growth is Madison and Dane County,” said Weckmueller.

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