In the last 10 years the University of New Mexico has doubled its freshman enrollment. But getting them is one thing and keeping them is something else. Earlier this month the school announced that it has set a new record for freshman retention: 76.6% of the freshmen in the class of 2010 returned to the college for the 2007-2008 academic year.




Part of the increase in freshman retention at UNM is being credited to a program called Freshman Academic Choices. It includes a service learning component and is designed to help first semester freshmen make the transition from high school.

The university has also instituted a winter intersession to allows students to take a class in between the fall and spring semesters. Twenty intersession classes drew 450 students this past year.

The university would like to see freshman retention rates rise to about 80%.