University nearer to goal of 10,000 students

Southeast Missouri State University officials are no doubt looking at their record enrollment total with pride.

Certainly, they have reason to view it as a reward for a lot of hard work. As late as 1994, they were seeing steady declines from year to year. That year's enrollment sank to 7,925 students.

In 1995, university officials set a goal to reach an enrollment of 10,000 students and began heavily recruiting in St. Louis.

The university also opened satellite campuses in Malden, Kennett, Sikeston and Perryville. These classes, along with online offerings, allow students to receive a college education without moving or commuting to Cape Girardeau.

And educators at Southeast have put more emphasis on retention, working with students to keep them in school through graduation. These approaches have worked, and last week officials announced the record: 9,534 students.

Interestingly, it came just after Southeast boosted in-state, undergraduate tuition by 19.6 percent, to $140.50 from $117.50 per credit hour, and boosted fees.

There are, of course, other factors to consider in the university's enrollment jump.

First, census figures indicate a population bubble in Missouri residents in their late teens.

Perhaps more importantly, when economic times get rough and there are fewer jobs, working-age people tend to enroll in college.

Meanwhile, education cost is more important than ever to students, who are flocking to community colleges in search of bargain educations.

Southeast remains a bargain compared to the other four-year universities in the state, although the cost of tuition and room and board is about average compared with the rest of the nation.

All of this is helping boost Southeast toward its goal of 10,000 students in the next four years. Recent history shows there's an excellent chance that goal will be met.

That's why this is such a crucial time for Southeast. With more students comes increased need for housing. Students and university neighbors have been complaining about the parking situation long and loud, and higher enrollment promises to make the problem even worse.

Class sizes will get larger. There may be a need for more instructors and professors, or at least the same number taking on more classes.

No matter why Southeast enrollment is experiencing such an enviable increase, making the right choices for the university's future is most crucial at this time.