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In December 1999 the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) released the Enrollment and Admissions Summary Report - Fall 1999 which summarizes enrollment figures throughout the state system. UMass Boston has again shown a substantial increase in total undergraduate students, from 10,132 in fall 1998 to 10,579 in fall 1999. Including graduate students, UMass Boston's enrollment now stands at 13,778.
The BHE report also illustrates an increase in out-of-state students at UMass Boston - comprising almost 10% of the student population - and a minimal number of remedial students, well below the 5% allowable cap of the percentage of freshman enrolled in two or more developmental courses.
According to the BHE, UMass Boston has done well in light of increasing admissions standards across the state system. Of 2,379 new students for fall 1999, 674 were first time freshman, an substantial increase of 17% from fall 1998. Transfer students, by far the highest population of new students every semester at UMass Boston, increased slightly from last year (1%). 82% of new admits met the higher admissions standards, while 6% were considered "non-traditional" and therefore exempt from some requirements. Only 7% were considered "special admits" - exceptions to BHE policy.
Liliana Mickle, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, attributes these increases in part to increased visibility of UMass Boston. "Our image have changed for the better, both locally and nationally. The leadership of Kathleen Teehan [Associate Chancellor for Enrollment Services and University Communications] has helped focus the efforts of many departments at UMass Boston into a coordinated recruitment effort. She has brought to fruition many new initiatives and encouraged a renewed spirit of cooperation and collaboration at UMass Boston."