N.O. universities progress after Katrina
Garesia Randle
Issue date: 8/29/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 3 next >
It has been almost two years since Mykell Clem stepped into a classroom at Xavier University in New Orleans.
Like many college students, the biology junior was forced to leave her home university in search of an academic haven - Louisiana State University - after Hurricane Katrina uprooted her from her home in the 7th Ward in August 2005.
Chancellor Sean O'Keefe reported in an LSU Board of Supervisors committee meeting this past August that more than 85 percent of the 2,700 students who transferred to LSU returned to their home institutions in spring 2006.
Many of Clem's friends who also transferred to LSU have made their way back home.
Clem stayed put.
But officials at New Orleans universities said they are recapturing the student populations they once had, even though students like Clem have not returned.
Former students are returning to the area, and freshman students are submitting more and more applications as the schools pick up the pieces and move forward with recovery efforts, officials said.
Winston Brown, dean of admissions for Xavier, said he expects this year's freshman class to be 46 percent larger than the incoming class of 475 students in fall 2006.
Brown said bouncing back from the freshman enrollment rut will be the key to getting student enrollment back to the university's expectations.
Brown said he expects enrollment numbers to reach the pre-Katrina incoming freshman level of 950 students within the next two school years.
"The increase is a gradual thing before people gain more confidence in the area," Brown said. "All the things college students need have been restored and are here in the area."
Clem said she misses Xavier's close teacher-student connection.
"At small colleges, the teachers give you more attention," Clem said. "But at big schools like LSU, you have to be more independent."
But Clem said she stayed here for that same reason.
"I'm away from home but not too far," Clem said. "I felt that being away from home has brought me closer to my family. When I go home, I am excited to see them. But I still have my freedom and independence."
Like many college students, the biology junior was forced to leave her home university in search of an academic haven - Louisiana State University - after Hurricane Katrina uprooted her from her home in the 7th Ward in August 2005.
Chancellor Sean O'Keefe reported in an LSU Board of Supervisors committee meeting this past August that more than 85 percent of the 2,700 students who transferred to LSU returned to their home institutions in spring 2006.
Many of Clem's friends who also transferred to LSU have made their way back home.
Clem stayed put.
But officials at New Orleans universities said they are recapturing the student populations they once had, even though students like Clem have not returned.
Former students are returning to the area, and freshman students are submitting more and more applications as the schools pick up the pieces and move forward with recovery efforts, officials said.
Winston Brown, dean of admissions for Xavier, said he expects this year's freshman class to be 46 percent larger than the incoming class of 475 students in fall 2006.
Brown said bouncing back from the freshman enrollment rut will be the key to getting student enrollment back to the university's expectations.
Brown said he expects enrollment numbers to reach the pre-Katrina incoming freshman level of 950 students within the next two school years.
"The increase is a gradual thing before people gain more confidence in the area," Brown said. "All the things college students need have been restored and are here in the area."
Clem said she misses Xavier's close teacher-student connection.
"At small colleges, the teachers give you more attention," Clem said. "But at big schools like LSU, you have to be more independent."
But Clem said she stayed here for that same reason.
"I'm away from home but not too far," Clem said. "I felt that being away from home has brought me closer to my family. When I go home, I am excited to see them. But I still have my freedom and independence."
Be the first to comment on this story