Southeast milestone

Southeast Missouri State University reached a milestone this semester when its enrollment eclipsed 10,000 students for the first time, the most students in the school's 132-year history.

The figure represents all students enrolled at the university, not just full-time students. It also includes students enrolled in the university's four regional higher education centers and students enrolled in online courses. The total of 10,292 also includes 1,324 graduate students, a 14 percent increase over last fall.

The 8,968 undergraduate students represent a 6 percent increase over last year. The freshman class of 1,679 students is 12 percent larger than the 2004 freshman class. Much of that growth is at the regional education centers in Perryville, Malden, Sikeston and Kennett.

Growth is a good indicator of the university's importance to students, and an indicator of the regional economic impact.