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DSU notes 2.91% enrollment increase
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By ELISA SAND, Staff Reporter
| 10/01/2009 |
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Dakota State University has posted a new record high enrollment for 2009 and has once again surpassed Northern State University. The South Dakota Board of Regents released enrollment information at the six state universities that reflect an overall increase of 2.54 percent. Five of the six universities are at growth with DSU's headcount alone up 2.91 percent to 2,861 students. DSU President Doug Knowlton said the campus' enrollment increase is a reflection of solid growth in several undergraduate programs and is on track with goals set by the university.
"Four years ago, we put into place a new strategic enrollment management plan. These numbers are all on track with that plan," Knowlton said. "Our overall goal is 3 percent (growth per year)."
While specific numbers aren't available on retention, non-traditional students and other details, Knowlton did say the headcount increase reflects gains in distance education.
"We had huge growth in distance and online education," he said.
NSU stands alone with a drop (4.7 percent) in enrollment and headcount is now 2,672.
Although not up from the previous year, NSU President James Smith said that 2009 enrollment at Northern is the second highest enrollment on campus from 2005 to the present.
"We see good momentum on all fronts," he said.
Not only does the average ACT score for all university students exceed the national average, but Northern has also seen a 20.6 percent increase in students at the University Center in Sioux Falls and more than a 100 percent increase in distance offerings.
The highest percentage increase was noted at South Dakota School of Mines, which posted a 5.63 percent increase. This is the first increase in enrollment at SDSM&T since 2003. In the past five years, enrollment has dropped from 2,454 to 2,061. SDSM&T gained ground this year, posting a headcount of 2,177 students.
SDSM&T President Bob Wharton said the campus is very excited about enrollment, which is a result of focused efforts on both recruitment and retention. The result, he said, is an estimated 8 percent increase in graduate students and a 14 percent increase in first-time freshmen on campus.
"I'm very pleased with these results," he said.
Black Hills State University posted 1.62 percent growth in enrollment and now sits at 4,076.
BHSU president Kay Schallenkamp said that enrollment increase is a reflection of a 3 percent increase alone in freshmen, an increase in graduate students and an increase in adult learners at the Rapid City center.
The University of South Dakota is up 3.51 percent to 9,617 students. USD President Jim Abbott said he's particularly pleased in the increase in graduate students. Total enrollment there is up 8.85 percent.
South Dakota State University is up 3.18 percent to 12,376 students. Vice President for Student Affairs Marysz Rames said the university is excited about its record enrollment as well. Growth at SDSU, she said, is attributed to three areas: a focus on increasing retention and graduation rates; a record freshman class of 2,135 students and growth in the graduate program, which is up 8 percent or 111 students.
System-wide enrollment is up 2.54 percent for a total headcount of 33,779 students. This marks 12 years of consecutive growth for the system.
Regent Executive Director Jack Warner said he is very pleased with overall enrollment growth.
"We know we're in a recession," he said. "The fact that we're still growing is a very positive thing."
When asked about the specific impact of the recession on enrollment, Warner pointed to the increases in enrollment already noted at technical schools.
"That invariably happens," he said. "They see the largest growth during a recession."
At the same time, he said, public schools are seen as a more cost-efficient option compared to private schools.
Enrollment at each university is measured in two ways: headcount and FTE (full-time equivalent). Headcount equals the total number of students enrolled. FTE is based on the total number of credit hours. FTE numbers are typically less because not all students are enrolled with a full-time credit load.
"Both headcount and FTE will be all-time records for us," Knowlton said.
DSU's FTE was calculated at 1,631.5, which is a 4.8 percent increase from 2008 and the highest on record for the Madison school.
"It's clearly consistent with what we're trying to do," Knowlton said.
FTE increased 2.17 percent throughout the entire system.
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©Madison Daily Leader 2009
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