Displaced students see cloudy prospects

Universities across the nation welcomed thousands of students displaced by Hurricane Katrina for the fall but are hesitant to make their status permanent.

Many university officials say they don't want to steal Gulf Coast students and will require them to go through regular admissions processes.

"We need to be careful that we have an even-handed approach and that we are not trying to poach students from other schools," said UNC Provost Robert Shelton.

"At the same time, students have every right to apply to any university that they want to and get fair consideration."

He said that UNC, which enrolled 14 displaced students, does not accept spring admissions, so displaced students must apply for enrollment for fall 2006.

Weston Davis, a Tulane University student who is studying at UNC, said he received notification from Tulane officials that the school will open for an abbreviated spring semester.

He said most students are enthusiastic about returning to their home institutions, but he is wary of going back and plans to fill out a transfer application to UNC.

"The city and the state is not what it was," he said, adding that he will give Tulane a chance before making a final decision.

Nearly 5,500 students have been displaced to Texas alone from the Gulf Coast region, and it is too early to know how many will want to stay, said Ray Grasshoff, spokesman for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

He said that there isn't a statewide mandate and that the board is allowing individual institutions to make decisions for next semester.

He said each university in the Texas system is doing what it is capable of with its resources. They are trying to work with Gulf Coast universities to avoid the perception that they are "trying to steal students" from their home institutions, Grasshoff said.

The University of Texas-Austin outlined its policy on its Web site.

"Displaced students seeking spring admission will have to compete with all other prospective students for the spaces available for the spring 2006 semester," it says.

Jenni Huffenberger, spokeswoman for the University of Texas-Dallas, said the admissions board has not set a definite policy on whether displaced students will be able to remain for the spring semester.

"My understanding is that (the current policy) is for this semester only," she said.

Of the 137 displaced students who applied to UT-Dallas, 89 were admitted.

In most universities, administrators are reviewing decisions to determine the present and future enrollment status of displaced students.

At Florida State University, 78 displaced students are enrolled as visiting students. For spring enrollment, regular admissions procedures will have to be followed.

"It is impossible to tell them that they can't (return) if they meet the requirements," said Hege Ferguson, associate director of admissions.

But she also said they are not recruiting those students and realize that many probably will want to return home.

Dickinson College in Pennsylvania has extended its "Crossing Borders" exchange program with Dillard University to include 14 of its displaced students as guests at the university.

Joyce Bylander, associate provost at the college, said that Dickinson already had high enrollment this year and is not looking to recruit students, but that the school will accommodate them if necessary.

"If Dillard isn't able to open in January, we will extend their guest status to next semester."

 

Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.