Southeastern NEWS
Southeastern Louisiana University
Public Information Office
SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
504-549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
Date: September 19, 2000
Contact: Rene Abadie 1
SOUTHEASTERN FRESHMAN ACT SCORES INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY
HAMMOND Average American College Test (ACT) scores for beginning freshman at
Southeastern Louisiana University increased significantly as the university implemented its new
quality admission standards for the fall semester, according to figures released by the university
today (Wednesday, Sept. 20).
Beginning freshmen this year show increases in all ACT scores compared to last year. The
composite ACT score in fall 2000 is 19.8 compared to 19.0 last year. Math scores are now at
18.5 compared to 17.8, and English scores are at 20.0 compared to the 1999 level of 18.9.
This semester marks the implementation of new quality admission standards at the university.
Entering freshmen at Southeastern must now have either an ACT composite score of at least 20,
rank in the upper 50 percent of their high school class, or have a high school grade point average
of at least a 2.0 in core academic courses. Prior to the new standards, students only had to have
an ACT score on file with the university and have graduated from an accredited high school.
The enrollment profile also shows that enrollment at the university dipped below the 15,000
mark for the first time since 1997. The total number of students enrolled at Southeastern for the
fall semester is 14,535, compared to 15,199 students this time last year. The biggest decrease
was in the freshman class, going from 5,170 students last year to 4,844 in 2000.
"With the implementation of the new standards, we anticipated that there would be a drop in
the actual number of students who would qualify for admission to the university," said Sally
Clausen, Southeastern president. "Our goals in increasing the admission standards were to attract
more academically prepared students and to raise the retention and graduation rates of our
students. The increased ACT scores are an indication that this strategy is working."
Students who are better prepared in high school or junior college are much more likely to be
academically successful and finish a four-year degree program, Clausen said.
An indication of the effect of the new admission standards is evident in the numbers of
students taking developmental or remedial math or English courses at Southeastern, she added.
This semester saw a 31 percent decrease in the number of students having to take developmental
courses.
The new standards are also affecting the number of students transferring to the university
from other institutions. This semester, 496 students transferred to Southeastern compared to 650
last fall. Under the new guidelines, students with less than 12 credit hours must meet the same
standards as entering freshmen. Those with 12 hours or more must have a 2.0 grade point
average on all transfer work and must be in good academic standing with the institution from
which they are transferring.
"While the numbers of transferring students are down slightly, the academic preparation of
these students is significantly better," Clausen said. The enrollment profile indicates that less
than five percent of transferring students are on scholastic probation, compared to 31 percent this
time last year.
"We are achieving our goals of attracting more academically-prepared students," Clausen
said. "Over the past several years, we have worked closely with area high school principals,
teachers and counselors to inform them of these changes and to help them prepare their students
for the higher admission standards."
She noted that Southeastern's High School Developmental Cooperative now in place in 13
schools in seven parishes is helping to reduce the number of entering college freshmen who
must take remedial math and English.
"This has proven to be a very cost-effective program," Clausen added, "with more than 75
percent of the participating students testing out of developmental class before graduating from
high school, while improving ACT scores and receiving high school credit. That's a win for
students' pocketbooks and their self-esteem." She said that in addition to being eligible to take
college algebra and English, more of these students will qualify for the Tuition Opportunity
Program for Students (TOPS).
Tangipahoa Parish continues to be Southeastern's top feeder parish, with a total of 3,143
students from the parish. The other top parishes sending students to Southeastern include St.
Tammany, 2,942; East Baton Rouge, 2,101; Livingston, 1,705; Jefferson, 955; and Washington,
659.
"I'm very proud of our faculty for reaching out and helping to strengthen our school
partnerships," Clausen said. "They have made improvement in high school achievement a
university-school responsibility."
-SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu./NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsf00.htm