University President Thompson thanked Senate for allowing him to speak, and he noted he had left another meeting to get to this one. He has heard from many groups and individuals among the faculty and promised to get as much done this year as possible.

While he did not have exact numbers with him, President Thompson noted that overall enrollment looks good and that SACS had given permission for KSU to work with students from the recently closed ITT. These students are mainly in nursing.

We are running behind on returning students due to recent large graduation classes, as well as the decrease in enrollment caused by the departure of non-paying students. Overall these conditions create about an 8.4% decline among returning students.

On the positive side, the university is up about 54% in dual credit students; up 11% in new freshmen; and up 30% in new transfers. The vast majority of students meet admission standards; very few (around 24) new students do not meet at least one admission category, but these students will be closely monitored through mentors, tutors, and participating faculty.

In terms of enrollment, we need to focus on a number areas: international students, in-state, and out-of-state. We have increased our dual credit courses, but offering these courses alone is not enough; we need to have a pathway for students to matriculate. We are currently close to our enrollment goal, and our retention of first and second year students looks promising.

A senator asked if dual enrollment will have an impact on the performance metrics by which we will be judged. President Thompson responded that the enrollment will help us, not hurt us. Dual enrollment has some financial impact on the university since students pay $154.00 a class. Setting up pathways will help in the longer view. Dual enrollment students will be entering freshman, not transfer students, upon matriculation. They will have a positive impact on our four and six year graduation rates.

The president noted he serves on the performance rating committee, and that its volume-based metrics will not work well for us given our size. He has argued that there also needs to be a small school metric, and he has asked for us to be measured on our progress, not against others. Looking ahead, we will fall short in three years for graduation rates due to the non-paying students who have left. A year ago we dropped 130 students for non-payment. This year we had to drop only 73, and that number ultimately was cut in half. Only about 5 had to leave from residence halls.

President Thompson noted that the Board of Regents wants an updated Strategic Plan by 9/15. A senator asked if the Board had not already approved a plan presented by President Burse. President Thompson responded that the plan had not been approved, and so he was currently working with Mary Pat Wolford of The Registry to complete a plan he hopes will be acceptable to the Board.