Southeast enrollment edges up, though some categories down

While Southeast Missouri State University continues to break enrollment records, the number of graduate students is down.

Last week, the university released its four-week census report, which reflected a 0.4 percent increase in total enrollment. The university enrolled 10,859 students, including 9,588 undergraduates.

Southeast's total enrollment has grown by 2,934 since 1994 when total fall semester enrollment was 7,925. Despite extensive growth in recent years, university officials said they want to maintain its small-school atmosphere. University enrollment goals through 2014 are set at around 11,500 students.

While undergraduate enrollment increased by 2.2 percent, the number of graduate students is down by 11.3 percent or 162 students.

"We are looking into it right now to see what exactly happened," said Dr. Fred Janzow, dean of the school of graduate studies. He said he has been talking to the coordinators of graduate programs since the lower numbers were released.

The number of nondegree seeking graduate students decreased the most, by 174 students. Janzow said he expects the majority of those students were teachers.

"It was not completely unexpected because I know what's going on in the economy around us and in the school systems," he said.

Janzow said teachers are no longer required to take graduate classes to meet requirements for professional development, a change that could have caused the lower numbers. Work and family demands also could have played a role, he said.

"It's probably mainly the complexity of teachers' lives -- they're very busy," Janzow said.

While the number of students seeking doctorates and specialist degrees also decreased slightly, the number of students seeking master's degrees increased by 4.3 percent or 30 students.

Southeast made progress toward other enrollment goals, including a 75 percent first-year retention rate, said Dr. Debbie Below, assistant vice president for enrollment management and director of admissions.

The average freshman-to-sophomore-year retention rate was 70.3 percent over the past four years. The retention rate for the current school year is 74.1 percent.

"The university is making steady progress toward our goal," she said. "And this year, the number of African-American students retained is mirroring the overall retention rate."

The Missouri State University system is also having a record-breaking year. The university's campuses enrolled 22,938 students, an increase of 1,250. The main campus in Springfield enrolled 20,842 students.

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