University of Louisiana at Monroe President Dr. Nick Bruno paused for a brief moment after delivering opening remarks in his State of The University to faculty and staff Thursday.
"The discussion over students - to recruit better prepared students and retain more students," he said. He noted retention at ULM had been an up and down over the years.
In 2012, changes were implemented to target retention efforts. He says the result has been positive.
Preliminary figures show 75 percent retention compared to numbers from last year at the same time. He holds to what he stated a year ago, that there’s a potential to increase revenue.
"Remember, I said if we could increase our retention rate and hold it, it could translate to as much as $2.5 to $3 million dollars over a four-year period. We're on track for that," said Bruno.
The campus itself continues to grow and evolve through several projects.
In July of 2014, Sandel Hall, the former library building at ULM, underwent a $14 million dollar renovation. Bruno says the project is on track to be completed by early next year. "It's a really exciting, beautiful facility. It is scheduled to open. We hope to occupy it by February."
It will house student services, the state’s business development center, campus radio stations, and various office and lab spaces.
ULM plans to transition the former Oxford Natatorium into a Student Events Center. Bruno cited the student body as committing $350 thousand dollars per year for 25 years to renovate the site.
The center is currently in the designing stages, will accommodate spirit and student group activities and house a conference area for larger university functions.
