Abbott covers enrollment, graduation and retention rates

Enrollment, graduation and retention rates, along with challenges to higher education, were the focus of President James Abbot’s annual State of the University address Thursday afternoon.

“There is a common belief that public education is too expensive,” Abbott said. “Across the country, we are a pretty good value, but the public doesn’t know that.”

Fall 2013 had a headcount of 10,234 students, down 49 students from the previous year. This year, there are 1,225 full-time, first-year students, down 25 students from the fall of 2012.

Attracting more students is beneficial to the financial stability of the university, along with creating a more vibrant environment on campus, Abbott said.

“I think most of the growth is because of the completion of our facilities,” Abbott said.

Over the summer, 13 building projects were competed, including a major waterline project. Three building projects are currently underway, including a 30,000 square foot expansion of the Muenster University Center. Abbott said he hopes for the new sports complex, including a basketball and volleyball area and the science health a research lab, will break ground next spring.

Student Government Association President Erik Muckey said he did not expect to hear anything groundbreaking in the address, but that the university is going in the right direction.

“I think the general reflection is that it’s going to take time,” Muckey said. “We desperately need schools like USD, and people don’t know that yet.”

Muckey said he would have preferred to hear information on building new residence halls.

Challenges to higher education included South Dakota’s aversion to taxes and a focus away from the liberal arts to skill-based education.

“Our state has a tremendous aversion to taxes,” Abbott said. “We want excellence, but we don’t want to pay for it.”

Sophomore Ellie Dailey thought Abbott’s goals were positive.

“You can tell the president really wants what’s best for the students at USD,” Dailey said.

Abbott also discussed:

• The results of a space utilization study will be released in October.
• A continuation of the capital campaign to raise $250 million.
• A goal to have 1,500 full-time first-year students on campus.
• A goal to increase the number of out-of-state students.
• A goal to balance the number of male and female students at the university.
• A goal to increase student diversity.
• A goal for 82 percent retention.