SOUTHEAST ENROLLMENT TOPS 8,200

Southeast Missouri State University's fall enrollment has topped the 8,200 mark.

The university's official enrollment Wednesday totaled 8,234, up from 7,843 after the first day of classes Aug. 25. The fall 1996 total was 8,219.

The official headcount is taken four weeks into the semester and submitted to the state's Coordinating Board for Higher Education.

The university's total undergraduate headcount for students on and off campus is 7,346, up from 7,343 this time last year, according to the enrollment report.

Wednesday's census showed beginning freshmen totaled 1,217, a decrease of 5 percent from fall 1996.

The university's total freshman headcount is 665, down 20 percent from this time last year.

Beginning freshmen are students who enrolled and began classes this semester. Freshmen include students who may have initially enrolled several years ago, but by credit-hour accumulation are considered freshmen.

Total sophomore headcount is 1,550, down one student from fall 1996. Total junior headcount is 1,536, an 8 percent increase from this time last year.

Total senior headcount is 1,790, up eight students from this time last year.

Wednesday census also showed total graduate headcount at 888, a 1 percent increase from a year ago.

Southeast's fall enrollment increased for the third straight year.

The university's all-time high enrollment was 9,552 in fall 1984.

University officials are keeping a close eye on freshman enrollment, said Dr. Robert Parrent, associate vice president for enrollment management.

"In terms of the beginning freshmen, freshmen and sophomores, the overall freshman group is down probably the most of any group," he said.

But, he said, "The bottom line, I think, is the numbers are quite positive and we're encouraged by them."

The university wants enrollment to keep climbing, and is working to increase enrollment to 10,300 over the next few years. Several initiatives are under way to make that goal a reality, said Parrent. One of the steps the university took was hiring Parrent.

The university is also working to recruit more minority students and has opened a recruitment office in St. Louis. The office, headed by former regent Patricia Washington, hopes to recruit more students from the metropolitan area.

The university's enrollment management team, made up of members of admissions, financial-aid, registrar's, new student and pre-collegiate programs offices, are looking at ways to "analyze and track and monitor" enrollment patterns and strategies, Parrent said.

Parrent said the university is also working on a new marketing strategy for overall university programs.

In addition, he said, university officials need to look at retaining students as well as enhancing recruitment of new students.

"That's a big part of a success story," he said.