College boom

As administrators of elementary schools, high schools, community colleges and universities well know, enrollments come in waves. This year a bumper crop of high school graduates -- sons and daughters of baby boomers -- is seeking admission to Missouri's colleges and universities, and many of them, including Southeast Missouri State University, are struggling to accommodate their requests for on-campus housing.

Southeast requires freshmen and sophomores from more than 50 miles away, with some exceptions, to live in campus housing. For the past three years, Southeast's freshman enrollment has topped 1,800. This year about 1,925 freshmen are expected. As a result, a few students who waited to enroll will be deferred to the spring semester. About 10 students will be affected.

The university has found ways to accommodate most of this year's surge of incoming students. Projections reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Sunday showed other universities in Missouri and Illinois are facing similar crunches. The Post said there were 63,000 high school graduates this year in Missouri, but that number is expected to drop to 55,000 within four years.

Both Mineral Area Community College in Park Hills and Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff are experiencing similar jumps in freshmen enrollment this year.