NEW ORLEANS, LA – Southern University at New Orleans has seen its student enrollment stay fairly consistent, even during a school year that was impacted by Hurricane Isaac and a still-slowed national economy. In the spring of 2012, SUNO had an enrollment of 3,291 students and today the unofficial count sits at 3,248. The University expects final numbers to be ready after the February 8th deadline for student fees has passed.
“SUNO, like many other universities in the region, saw our enrollment affected by Hurricane Isaac during the fall semester”, said Chancellor Victor Ukpolo. “What has helped us is our ongoing commitment to recruitment and retention. SUNO has taken a proactive stance in our outreach efforts to our current students and we have enacted strategies to bring back students who have withdrawn from the University as well. If these efforts are as successful as we anticipate, we should begin to trend upward as we have each year since Katrina. Right now our focus is on making sure that our students are in class and that they have met their financial obligations to the University.”
SUNO has also worked to find available grant dollars to provide students with scholarships to ease the cost of a college education, which for many can make pursuing their studies much more difficult. Chancellor Ukpolo added, “If we can provide students any tools, financial or otherwise that can get them on the path to a college degree, then that’s what we are going to try to do. SUNO has always been a place of opportunity and that commitment has not wavered.”
Southern University at New Orleans is a four-year public institution founded in 1956, categorized as an SREB Four-Year 5 institution, a Carnegie Master’s College and University I, and as a SACSCOC Level III institution. Located in the Gentilly area, the University is an accredited liberal arts teaching institution. SUNO, known for its highly-engaged faculty and academic support, offers a wide range of baccalaureate degrees including those from its nationally accredited School of Social Work (CSWE), College of Education and Human Development (NCATE) and College of Business and Public Administration, accredited by AACSB International. SUNO is also committed to graduate education through the master’s degree, offering graduate programs to meet regional and statewide needs. The University is a member of the Southern University System. For more information please visit SUNO.edu.