UNIVERSITY PLEASED WITH ENROLLMENT GROWTH

Southeast Missouri State University had cause to celebrate this past week. First-day enrollment numbers climbed 4.3 percent over a year ago to 8,113 students.

That's an accomplishment considering the stiff competition for college-bound students.

The university is hoping the numbers continue to grow with an additional 600 to 800 more students by the official enrollment date four weeks into the semester. Enrollment is growing both on campus and at outlying education centers.

Much of the growth was evident in the freshman classes. Southeast has 1,520 beginning freshmen, up more than 160 than a year ago. The number of returning freshman (students who have taken classes before but are still freshmen) also rose.

In fact, it may be the largest freshman class in this decade.

But the university experienced decreases in sophomore, junior and senior classes.

The university was also buoyed by a jump in graduate enrollment: 34 percent. The reason may be an increase in graduate-program offerings during both day and evening time slots.

The graduate school has stepped up student recruitment and has added new programs in business, nursing, social work, health fitness and engineering management in the last few years.

This growth of freshman has come as the university has tightened admission standards.

In the mid 1990s, Southeast raised its standards from open enrollment to a moderately selective university. The university hopes these students have a greater potential for academic success and more staying power. That way, Southeast expects to better overall graduation rates.

It may take a few more years to let these new rate standards play out in enrollment numbers. That's because many students take five years or longer to graduate.

The enrollment growth is no fluke. The university has become much more aggressive in its recruiting strategies over the past decade. That, combined with a growing high school graduate pool, has helped the university's enrollment climb.

The fact the university has stretched out into a growing number of communities with regional education centers also has brought more opportunities closer to home. That can only help build numbers.

The enrollment growth is cause to celebrate for the entire region. After all, Southeast's enrollment is more than simply a university concern. More students translate into a greater economic impact for Southeast Missouri.

The university and region should feel good that the hard work to recruit more students seems to be paying off.