ESU gains enrollment
ESU Media Relations
Friday, September 26, 2008
A bumper crop of seniors helped produce a small increase in overall enrollment for the fall semester at Emporia State University. The fact that more students have chosen to come back to ESU this fall is one of the main reasons for an increase in enrollment over fall 2007 figures.
“In this difficult economic and recruiting market it is gratifying to see our enrollment increase. However, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to attract new students and to retain students,” said Michael R. Lane, ESU president.
“Overall, we’re up 50 students,” said Tes Mehring, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “I think that’s good for the campus, it’s good for our students, and good for all of our constituents to know that we’re healthy.”
ESU posted increases in the number of returning students, graduate students, and international students this fall, according to 20th day enrollment numbers reported to the Kansas Board of Regents. Fall semester enrollment at Emporia State totals 6,404 students.
“Along with a higher number of students returning to campus this fall, we’re also up in graduate students and international students,” noted Jim Williams, vice president for strategic partnerships and student life. The number of students from nearby states has increased by 27 from the previous fall.
“We continue to modify our recruitment efforts to attract first-time freshmen with partnerships throughout the community and the region,” said Williams. “Serving non-traditional students is becoming vitally important as the number of college-bound Kansas students is projected to significantly decrease over the next 10 to 15 years,” he added.
ESU reported higher student numbers in undergraduate and graduate programs at its Metro Learning Center in Overland Park, in its teacher education partnership program operated at Butler Community College in El Dorado, and its School of Library and Information Management program sites in Colorado, Oregon, and Utah. In addition, enrollment in ESU on-line classes has increased by more than ten percent from last fall.