A SMT News Report

CAPE GIRARDEAU – Southeast Missouri State University is a "growing" place.

Total enrollment at the regional university continues to grow with 10,875 students enrolled after the first full day of classes of the fall 2011 semester.

Total enrollment is up 2.7 percent from this time last year. Classes at Southeast began Aug. 22.

Key to growth this fall is the second consecutive year in which beginning freshmen enrollment has surpassed 1,900, according to Dr. Debbie Below, assistant vice president for enrollment management and director of admissions. Beginning freshmen enrollment stands at 1,924, down just 1.7 percent from last year’s 1,958 beginning freshmen on opening day.

“This record of continued growth is contributing to the University’s positive outlook for the future,” Below said. “This is a student body that is well-prepared and ready to learn. We are honored they have chosen Southeast, and we look forward to helping each and every student meet their educational goals.”

Dr. Bruce Skinner, director of Residence Life, said 3,108 students are living in SEMO's dorms this fall, an increase of 171 from this time last year. Because of the demand for on-campus housing and to accommodate Southeast’s growing campus population, only five students are housed in private rooms this year.

Southeast also has 48 students who are upperclassmen are being housed this year on the fourth floor at Candlewood Suites, a Cape Girardeau hotel, Skinner said.

“The residence halls at Southeast continue to be in high demand from our new and returning students. We are pleased so many students recognize the value and convenience of living on campus,” Skinner said.

With more than 800 volunteers, a record 1,286 students moved into the residence halls on Aug. 18, accounting for the largest single day move-in to the residence halls in more than 20 years.

Enrollment of students taking only Web courses is 705, up from 659 last year.

“Increasingly, our students have busy lives, and online classes make it possible for students to stay on target with their academic goals while balancing the demands of family and work,” said Robin Grebing, director of Southeast Online. “Increasing the number of classes we offer online is just one way the University serves the needs of students locally and around the world.”

Growth is also evident in the School of Graduate Studies where total graduate student enrollment is 960, up 2.6 percent from fall 2010. Degree seeking master’s student enrollment is 834, up 5.7 percent from this time last year.

The official census report will be issued in four weeks. University officials say the enrollment typically grows between the first-day census and the final fourth-week census date.

Local Link Of Interest

Southeast Missouri State University

Video On Southeast's Fall Enrollment