SEMO accommodates growing enrollment

Having topped 12,000 students this fall, Southeast Missouri State University has enough classroom space to accommodate its growth, but might need renovations in the future.

Angela Meyer, director of facilities management, said the university's Space Utilization Committee has discussed classroom space, but isn't ready to recommend any changes to the board of regents -- yet. Provost Bill Eddleman added the university doesn't "have any absolute shortage problems in terms of space."

"We've used a mix of online and face-to-face [classes] if there are enough students that need a given class," Eddleman said.

Miranda Wade, a sophomore from Fairview Heights, Illinois, said some classes can be tough to get into, but officials "do a good job of adding seats."

Eddleman said a department chairman also can substitute a similar course for one that's required. Classes can be moved around, as students often don't take certain courses when they're advised and then find themselves needing a particular class.

Lenell Hahn, director of admissions, said one of this year's goals is to implement a collaborative advising concept for incoming students. "This review has begun and we are looking at all of our processes in the perspective of the student," she said. "We want to ensure they receive information necessary to be successful at Southeast, build a schedule aligned to graduate on time and know major milestone courses toward degree completion."

Record enrollment

Student head count now stands at 12,087, exceeding last year's enrollment record of 11,917 students, according to Southeast's most recent census report.

This marks the 20th year of consecutive enrollment growth for Southeast and the 14th year of record-breaking enrollment, Dr. Debbie Below, vice president for enrollment management and student success and dean of students, said in a news release.

The total number of international students for fall is 1,061. This is up from 951 in fall 2013, resulting in an 11.5 percent increase.

Southeast Missouri State University students walk across campus near Academic Hall on Monday. (Laura Simon)

Freshman enrollment is 1,849, up 6.9 percent from this time last year. Total graduate student head count stood at 1,239 last week, up 6.6 percent from fall 2013.

The number of new students attending Southeast regional campuses grew at every location. Southeast has roughly 1,200 students at its regional campuses in Kennett, Malden and Sikeston, Missouri. Freshman enrollments at the regional campuses total almost 270 students, compared to 230 in fall 2013, Hahn said.

Interest in Southeast's new dual credit offerings for talented high school students continues to grow as well. Dual credit enrollment increased from 926 to 1,017 or 9.8 percent over this same time last fall.

Yazzmin Finerson, a senior studying early childhood education, said if students took dual-credit classes in high school, in which they could earn high school and college credit simultaneously, they would get higher priority than freshmen with none.

"I think it all depends on your major," Finerson said. "With education, it was easy from beginning to end. Education is very strict and straight to the point with what you need."

Brandon Oatsvall, a junior TV, film and mass communication major, said along with price, the mass communication department helped draw him in. He said he hasn't had any problem getting into the courses he needs.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

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