SEMO ENROLLS 8,113

GRAPHCI -- SEMO ENROLLMENT

First-day enrollment at Southeast Missouri State University climbed 4.3 percent over a year ago.

Southeast had 8,113 students enrolled at the start of fall-semester classes Monday.

Dr. Ken Dobbins, university president, said as many as 600 to 800 more students may enroll in classes at Southeast and its outlying education centers before final enrollment is calculated four weeks into the semester.

If that occurs, the university could approach 9,000 in total enrollment, Dobbins said.

The university wants to increase enrollment to 10,000. This fall's enrollment should move the school closer to reaching that goal, he said.

"It's an active, vibrant campus this fall," said Dr. Pauline Fox, vice president for administration and enrollment management.

Southeast has 1,520 beginning freshmen, 160 more than a year ago.

The number of returning freshmen also is up. But the university experienced decreases in the sophomore, junior and senior classes.

Southeast has 42 new international students on campus this fall, bringing the total number of international students to 224.

Jay Goff, admissions director, said the university has seen a healthy increase in beginning freshmen for two years in a row. In terms of head count, Southeast may have its largest freshman class in this decade, he said.

Goff said a 1 to 2 percent increase in overall enrollment is considered good. "Anything over that is just icing on the cake."

Goff and other Southeast officials sported "we're up" buttons advertising the university's increased enrollment.

Southeast's enrollment includes 7,110 undergraduates and 1,003 graduate students.

Besides a larger freshman class, more students have enrolled in graduate courses. Graduate enrollment has jumped more than 34 percent.

Dobbins said, "We are offering more graduate programs, and our graduate programs are becoming more popular."

Over the past few years, new graduate programs in business, nursing, social work and health fitness administration and a cooperative program in engineering management have been launched. Many area teachers also are pursuing advanced degrees. In addition, Southeast's graduate school has stepped up its recruitment of students.

"We are doing a better job of telling the Southeast story," said Dobbins.

Southeast's residence halls are full this fall. The school has signed housing contracts with 2,113 students. A year ago, 1,776 signed contracts to live in campus residence halls.

"This may be the highest number of students this decade in the residence halls," said Dobbins.

The Southeast president said the school has worked hard to recruit students from the St. Louis and Southern Illinois areas, as well as the Bootheel.

Goff, who became admissions director in 1997, credits a team approach to boosting enrollment.

"Everyone on campus from the shuttle bus drivers to the faculty in the classroom has helped to make the campus better and more student centered," he said.

Dobbins said the increased enrollment was reflected last Thursday at the opening convocation for students at Academic Hall Auditorium.

"For the first time in the eight years I have been here, every seat in Academic Hall Auditorium was filled with a freshman and it was standing room only," said Dobbins.

The students, he said, clapped when the new food service operation was mentioned.

SEMO ENROLLMENT

First-day enrollment figures at Southeast Missouri state University for fall semester 1999:

Total enrollment, 8,113, up 4.3% from fall 1998

Undergraduates, 7,110, up 1.1% from fall 1998

Graduate students, 1,003, up 34.1% from fall 1998

Beginning freshmen, 1,520, up 12% from fall 1998

Returning freshmen, 753, up 10% from fall 1998

Total Sophomores, 1,396, down .5% from fall 1998

Total Juniors, 1,384, down 6% from fall 1998

Total Seniors, 1,783, down 2% from fall 1998

SOURCE: SEMO