Southeast Missouri State University enrollment climbs again

Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to be more clear about dual credit coursework and an increase in enrollment.

Enrollment has increased once again at Southeast Missouri State University, and it's because of a higher number of high school students taking dual-enrollment classes.

The number of students enrolled in dual credit coursework is up 24.4 percent, according to a news release from the university.

"University faculty and high school teachers are collaborating to teach the courses, and more high school students are taking the opportunity to get an early start on their college classes," the release states.

The dual-credit program is offered in 42 schools in the region. In the fall 2014 semester, the university reported a 9.8 percent increase in high school students registering for dual-enrollment courses compared to fall 2013.

Students walk between classes Friday, Jan. 23, 2015 at Southeast Missouri State University. (Fred Lynch)

Dual credits are college-level courses that are offered to high school students so they can begin earning college credits that transfer to certain universities.

Southeast enrollment has been rising for two decades, and as of Tuesday, the first day of the spring semester, enrollment was up 1.9 percent from last spring.

This is the 14th year of record-breaking enrollment numbers at the university.

The combined undergraduate and graduate student headcount is 10,858, up from 10,656 in the 2014 spring semester. Southeast has 9,661 undergraduate and 1,197 graduate students enrolled, according to the release.

"I believe these numbers reflect a significant achievement in making postsecondary education more accessible and more affordable to young people who are still in their high school years," Dr. Gerald McDougall, associate provost for Online and Extended Learning, said in the release.

In the fall, Southeast broke its record high of 12,000 students, however, numbers are usually lower in the spring than in the fall.

There has also been an increase in the number of international students. Southeast has 1,054 international students enrolled, up from 968 last spring.

"The state of Missouri has established a goal to substantially increase the number of adults who have earned a college degree," said Dr. Debbie Below, vice president for enrollment management and student success. "The expansion of dual credit offerings is one of the components of the university's commitment to improving college attendance and completion rates in this region."

Below added that dual-credit offerings provide hundreds of students with a jump on their college education.

The numbers do not reflect the official census report, just numbers based off of the first day records. The official census report will be available in late February.

smaue@semissourian.com

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