The past year has been plagued with bankruptcies, failing mortgages, sky-rocketing gas prices and high unemployment. Despite an increase in tuition and the cancellation of last year's Academic Interest Day, Otterbein welcomed its largest incoming class to date, with 770 new students. This includes 673 incoming freshmen and 93 transfer students, according to unofficial statistics provided by the Office of Admission. The total number is a 6.9 percent increase from last year's incoming class of 732 and well above the Office of Admissions' expectations. "Our goal was 720 new students and we clearly beat that," said Tom Stein, vice president of enrollment. This places Otterbein right on target with the 2007 Strategic Plan, approved last fall, which calls for a 2 percent increase in enrollment each year. "Otterbein is dependent on enrollment so we're always pushing to increase it," said Cass Johnson, director of admission. "We tried to cover more territory this year by visiting more high schools and college fairs and using more technology wherever we could." Stein said the Office of Admission simply worked harder to keep in contact with prospective students. Johnson agreed, saying "We continually enhance what we do with students who show interest." She added that continuing to waive online application fees and having more endowed scholarship money available helped as well. Admission also worked to increase ethnic and geographic diversity. "We had a concentrated effort in Columbus City Schools and worked with more urban centers and a Hispanic outreach program," Johnson said. "We also got our name out there at out-of-state high schools where we've had students in the past." The number of minority students rose 4.8 percent from last year and out-of-state enrollment increased as well. While Otterbein welcomes its largest incoming class, it also welcomes the minor glitches that come with it. Retention has always been an issue, but the college is taking some steps to try and keep the rate from increasing this year. The Director of Admission, Cass Johnson said, "The main goal is to admit students who we think will succeed." There are different reasons that students do not come back after their first quarter at Otterbein. Cindy Davis, Chair of the Retention Committee, said, "Some people don't register again because they are not happy with their major and they don't know what classes to take or they decide on a major that Otterbein doesn't offer, so they leave." We will try to contact people that haven't registered yet to figure out why and try to help them if there is a problem," Davis said. Stein also added that classes are tight and "parking is at a premium, too."t&c;
Otterbein welcomes class of 2012
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