Record-breaking student numbers prompt VCU growth

Reports boasting VCU has the largest student population ever in Virginia have prompted administrators to provide new services and facilities to accommodate the university’s increasing numbers.

Reuban Rodriguez, associate provost and dean of student affairs, attributes growth to the university’s commitment to diversity.

“I think VCU mirrors what the real world looks like, and I think our student, faculty and staff appreciate that,” Rodriguez said. “That (diversity) continues to make VCU very attractive.”

According to University News Services’ reports, VCU is the first university in Virginia whose student population exceeds 30,000. This number includes part-time and full-time students.

Rodriguez said administrators want to set a ceiling for student population growth at 35,000.

Pam Lepley, director of University News Services, said student retention and graduation rates have grown with the school, yet these rates omit part-time students. Between 1998 and 2005, Lepley said, student retention rates rose from 73.5 percent to 81.6 percent.

“Our graduation rates are improving, too,” Lepley said. “We’ve had a 5 percent increase in two years. These are six-year graduation rates, which is the standard for reporting to the state and federal governments.”

Following its transformation of Broad Street in the ’90s, VCU has set its sights on constructing a new joint engineering and business building, scheduled for completion by late August, to accommodate growing interest in those programs.

“(The School of Engineering) has become one of the preeminent programs,” Rodriguez said. “We need to expand our facilities in order to continue to grow those particular schools.”

Rodriguez said complaints about limited student housing are also being addressed.

“We have a commitment to guaranteeing housing for freshmen students,” Rodriguez said. “We’re in the process of building 400 beds for upper-class students this fall. We feel that’s a very solid foundation.”

Rodriguez said VCU aims to provide student dorms for at least one-sixth of the future student population. The university also is budgeting $60 million for new student recreational facilities.

Jon Steingass, dean of the University College, stated in an e-mail the UC was devised to meet an increase in the growing demand for more student services.

“During the fall semester, a record number of students utilized academic support services,” Steingass said. “These positive changes contributed to record high numbers of students who ended their first semester in good academic standing and returned for their spring semester.”

In its first semester, Steingass said, the UC held more than 14,000 advising sessions, as well as 3,000 hours of tutoring, 8,200 hours of supplemental instruction and 1,350 Writing Center consultations.

“In addition, 300 students participated in 12 pilot sections of the proposed focused inquiry course that, upon approval by the University Curriculum Committee, will be required of all first-year students beginning fall 2007,” Steingass said.

Rodriguez said these programs and services aim to improve student life.

“We certainly want students to be able to continue and complete their degrees in a timely fashion,” Rodriguez said. “(We are) building a quality student life experience for them.”