Witt touts college's accomplishments

Florence - Just as the University of North Alabama has set records for fall enrollment, so, too, have the state's largest four-year public institutions.

Robert Witt, president of the University of Alabama, used growth as the cornerstone of his speech to the Rotary Club on Monday.

"Every year, for the last three years, I've been able to tell the university administration this is the largest, best-quality freshman class we've had in university history," he said. "In less than a month, I'll be able to tell them for the fourth time this is the largest, best-quality freshman class in university history."

Alabama's fall enrollment is 25,580. The state's other large four-year public university, Auburn, also hit a record high with 24,137.

Witt has been president of the university since March 2003 and, among his initial goals, was to increase the university population to 28,000 by 2013. That goal has been amended to 2010 to reflect the current enrollment rates. To accommodate the sheer volume of students, Witt said the majority of new construction has been for student housing.

"We've opened up a new building on campus every 90 days in the last four years," he said. "In the last three years, we've opened up seven residence halls. And these are different from what we know as dorms. These are two- and four-bedroom suites with private bathrooms, pools and recreation centers."

Such growth, especially at this level, comes with its own set of unique challenges.

Witt said he'd like to see the university grow to no more than "the low 30,000s in students," and that may be more likely than not as Alabama high school graduation rates level off in the next five to 10 years.

Pam Parker, assistant vice president for advancement at Alabama, said the school is already seeing more than half of its population coming from outside the state's borders, particularly from Texas, Georgia, Virginia and the Carolinas.

"Despite that, we must still be a place for students from Alabama," she said. "We want them to find their place, too."

Parker also alluded to the fact that academic standards have increased along with student growth, so much so that of the more than 4,500 students in the freshman class this fall, 920 had a 4.0 grade point average in high school.

"That's where regional universities come in," he said. "We need them to partner with us to help provide a college education for all those who want one, even if it can't be at Alabama."

Both higher education institutions in the Shoals have experienced large enrollment in recent years. UNA in particular has grown to more than 7,000 students in the past three years, and Northwest-Shoals Community College has posted a 7 percent increase in enrollment.

Like UNA, the University of Alabama has shifted to a pedestrian campus. The idea emerged as part of Witt's master plan unveiled in 2006 and has already worked to open up the quad area to more foot traffic. Witt also said the 800-acre campus is in talks with the state to acquire the Bryce Hospital facility and grounds, which, if approved, would add 250 acres to the already crowded campus.

Michelle Rupe Eubanks can be reached at 740-5745.