SEMO could see record spring enrollment

Southeast Missouri State University students began picking up their textbooks on Monday as school officials forecast possible record enrollment for the spring semester that begins a week from today.

Dr. Dennis Holt, who is beginning his first semester as the new vice president for administration and enrollment management, said Southeast expects to exceed last spring's first-day enrollment figure and could end up with a record enrollment when final numbers come out in a month.

A year ago, 7,917 students were enrolled at the start of the semester in university classes, both on campus and at off-campus sites. Southeast ended up with a record spring enrollment of 8,971 students.

"We are on target to be higher," Holt said.

Even if the number is a record-setter, it's not expected to exceed the record fall enrollment of 9,534 students. That's because fewer students traditionally attend in the spring than in the fall, Holt said.

Several hundred seniors graduate in December each year and relatively few students begin their schooling in January, Holt said.

"There is always a drop-off," he said.

Picking up textbooks

A steady stream of students showed up on the second floor of the University Center on Monday to pick up their textbooks.

Nearly 500 undergraduate students picked up textbooks on the first day of checkout in January 2002 and officials expected similar first-day numbers this year.

Laurie Taylor, assistant manager of the Southeast Bookstore, which manages the textbook rental program, said students benefit from the program.

Unlike most colleges, Southeast rents undergraduate textbooks to students at a cost of $14 per course. Graduate students have to buy their books.

"It is like a scholarship to everybody who walks through that door," said Taylor. Students at many schools pay $100 just for a single textbook, she said.

Taylor estimated Southeast rents 35,000 textbooks to undergraduates each semester.

Although many students picked up textbooks Monday, Taylor said many students will wait until next Monday to get their textbooks.

Most students living in campus residence halls won't return until this weekend, school officials said.

Showing up early

But some commuter students showed up to pick up their textbooks to beat the rush and select from those books that are in best condition.

"I just wanted to get it over with," said Mike Sullivan, a junior from Cape Girardeau, as he left the textbook rental area on Monday afternoon.

Bethany Rhodes of Jackson is beginning her first semester at Southeast. "I am a little nervous," the freshman said as her sister, Emily Schooley, a Southeast junior, helped her choose textbooks stacked on large metal shelves.

"We are looking for ones in pretty good shape," said Schooley, a junior at Southeast. "Some of them are pretty beat up."

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

BY THE NUMBERS

Final spring enrollment numbers for Southeast Missouri State University for the last 10 years

Year - Enrollment

2002 - 8,971

2001 - 8,713

2000 - 8,524

1999 - 8,132

1998 - 8,065

1997 - 7,773

1996 - 7,520

1995 - 7,469

1994 - 7,644

1993 - 7,916

1992 - 7,885