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Show -IIB 86TH YEAR; NUMBER 30 SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY • CEDAR CITY, UTAH MONDAY FEBRUARY 10, 1992 Roberts • resigns Enrollments still on the rise BY NATALIE COOMBS Thunderbird Managing &Jiior Enrollments at SUU continue to rise, reaching a winter quarter high of 3,701, a number up 175 students from last winter's 3,526 total head count. FuU-time equivalent student figures have also grown by 189 students over last year at this time to 3,361. The freshman class contributes the most to enrollment with a total of 1,294 students; the sophomore and junior classes consist of 678 and 627 students, respectively; and the senior class is up nearly 200 students from last year to 1,084. Also, women outnumber men at SU by 273-1,987 to 1,714. According to Director of Admissions and Records D. Mark Barton, SUU is the fastest growing four-year institution in Utah, and quite possibly the fastest growing in the nation. The record growth rates have led SU recruiters and administrators to follow a more selective recruiting/advisement policy regarding potential students, according to Barton . In the past, Barton said, SUU's recruiting approach focused heavily on advertising and publications that encouraged everyone to apply. However, the advertising of SU's small class sizes, placement and personalized instruction, along with the institutions recently-acquired university status has enabled th6 university to become more selective. "We don't have to sell as hard as we did. We now do more educational advising," he said. "It used to be," he added, "counselors knew if a student didn't get a scholarship somewhere else, he could get one at SU.'' Now, he said, scholarship competition at Southern Utah is some of the toughest in the state. Barton also credits the success of SU athletic teams with some of the university's notoriety, particularly in California where the majority of the school's 271 nonresident students are from. Enrollments have also been increasing statewide and the Board of Regents is expected to outline new criteria for admissions at the state's four-year institutions within the next few months. The new standards would onJy be enforced at four-year colleges and universities; two-year colleges would still follow the open-admissions policy currently used by SU. According to Barton, the admissions grid used would be from the University of Utah. The decision whether to accept or reject a student would be based on a student's GPA and ACT score, and a predetermined admissions cut-off determined by the Regents. The two student factors would act inversely-the higher GPA a student had, the lower ACT he could have and still be admitted, depending on the minimum standard set by the Regents. The key motivation behind the new admissions (CONTINUED O N PAGE 7) SU's head basketball coach Neil Roberts resigned Saturday citing the recent Idaho alleged shoplifting incident as the reason. He leaves the team to assistant coach Bill Evans, who is in his second year with the Thunderbirds, on an interim basis. In Roberts' resignation letter, dated Feb, 7, be explained why be was leaving his post. His letter to Athletic Director Jack Bishop read: "I am resigning my position as head basketball coach at Southern Utah University. The situation that happened in Idaho and the publications have gotten out of hand. I realize the effect it has had on the university, our basketball program, and eventually my relationship with the administration of the institution. '' Robe.rts went on to say that he is extremely proud of the developments of SU's basketball program, and encouraged the team members to continue their successful season. He said, " It is my desire that this program reach it fullest potential, " and noted that he hoped this incident would not hinder that. President Gerald R . Sherratt said, "Coach Roberts has indicated he will urge his team to complete the season in style, and it is his hope that the players will redouble their efforts in making this year's schedule one of the most successful in the university's history." In bis letter Roberts' also thanked university officials for his opportunity to work here as the head basketball coach, and for the past support of Bishop and Sherratt. Sherratt, in response to the resignation letter, issued an official statement that showed his, and the university's, gratitude for Roberts' coaching. "The university deeply regrets Coach Roberts' decision to resign," Sherratt said, "but we respect and understand his position. We know that this past week has been a period of great anguish for Coach Roberts and his family . " Sherratt noted that both Roberts' assistants and the basketball team have expressed their complete confidence in him, and even urged the coach to remain at the helm of the basketball program. "The university acknowledges its debt to Coach Roberts for having developed a first-class Division I basketball program at Southern Utah University," Sherratt said, "and for having established SUU as a contender in one of Utah· s • premier sports. "We wish Coach Roberts well in the future. He continues to enjoy our regard and esteem." In Bishop's offitial statement he said, "The situation has been· difficult for Neil and for the university. Our basketball program has made great progress under Neil's direction. "Coach Robert.s did an excellent job during the formative years of Southern Utah University's participation in NCAA Division I basketball. The team has gained national prominence this season. We appreciate the effort that Coach Roberts put into the program." |