University enrollment goes up by 21 percent

Southeast Missourian

Freshmen enrollment at Southeast Missouri State University shot up nearly 21 percent from last year, according to a preliminary report compiled after Monday, the first day of classes for the fall 2007 semester.

There were 1,826 freshmen enrolled to start this week, up from 1,514 at this time in 2006.

The enrollment surge could be due at least in part to the River Campus opening up, bringing many of the university's arts disciplines together in one place.

According to a news release from the university, the departments of music, art, and theater and dance have all opened extra sections of courses for their majors and in-service courses this fall because of growing enrollment.

"We've increased our enrollment by 500 percent," said Dr. Kenn Stilson, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, in a prepared statement. "This year, we've had a record recruiting year. We've had a record recruiting year for six consecutive years."