President Castille, Dr. VerJanis Peoples, SUSF Past President Anna Jones, and Dr. Brandon Dumas watch as former Acting Chancellor Flandus McClinton signs Student Recruitment Agreement in 2014

Dear Southernites:

The final enrollment numbers are rolling in from the campuses. SUBR First-Time-Freshmen students increased nearly 30% and is the largest freshmen class in 10 years. Last fall, SUBR had 942 students and this fall, as of the final census date Tuesday, the number of paid students had risen to 1210. SUNO also had a 44% increase in First-Time-Freshmen students. First-Time-Freshmen enrollment increased from 143 students to 206 students. Both campuses experienced an overall increase in enrollment. For SUBR, the 268 more students in the freshmen class means the campus will generate approximately $2 million in additional revenue in tuition and an additional million or so in fees. For SUNO, the increase in the freshmen class represents $373,685 in additional tuition revenue for that campus plus it will receive more fee revenue. Should the two universities retain these students, the funds will be recurring.

The reports I've received so far show that SUBR has experienced a 50% increase in out-of-state freshmen students.  I applaud the University, the Foundation and the Federation for joining forces over the last year to increase enrollment. I particularly thank you, our alumni, for supporting our National Recruitment Initiative. Your efforts have generated millions of dollars for Southern. Because of your hard work, we are not discussing financial exigency, and we are not talking about layoffs. Instead, we are enjoying some welcomed growth. I think the collaborative agreement the University, Foundation and Federation entered into a year ago is a successful strategy. That said, I think we can do better. As such, we plan to continue and expand our recruitment program. Our alumni student recruiters in Chicago, Atlanta and Houston are fired up and have already begun recruiting for fall 2016. We need you to continue to financially support this program. The Federation and Foundation contributed nearly $100,000 to student recruitment this past year and helped the System generate millions. What an incredible return on our investment.

*sneak peek* Lo Angeles Chapter

As the Southern University Alumni Federation nears its 75th Diamond Anniversary in 2016, we begin the celebration with the first ever SUAF calendar to commemorate 75 years of service!