SHSU Update for Week of Sept. 16

• SHSU Sets Enrollment Record
• Graduate Students Win Research Awards
• Faculty/Staff Meeting Re-Scheduled
• Counseling Offers Support Group
• 'Coffee at 5:05'

SHSU Sets Enrollment Record

The fall enrollment is 642 students more than the 2000 fall semester, an increase of 5.2 percent, and 122 more than the fall of 1997.

"Setting an enrollment record is always exciting for a university," said James F. Gaertner, Sam Houston State University president. "This means that our students are telling potential students about their good experiences here. It means that our alumni are good examples of what our graduates can accomplish.

"It means that we are putting out a good educational product," Gaertner said. "A Sam Houston State University education is marked by quality and value, and these figures prove that more and more people believe that."

Totals released by the SHSU Registrar's Office, and the percentage increases from fall 2000, show enrollment of 3,240 freshmen (1.34%), 2,489 sophomores (9.41%), 2,389 juniors (0.59%), 3,155 seniors (4.99%), 1,209 graduates (13.52%), 366 post-graduates (14.73%), and 149 doctoral students (25.21%).

"We are thrilled about our record enrollment for Fall 2001," said Joey Chandler, director of admissions/recruiting. "It was a total campus community effort. It takes lots of teamwork to have an increase or just to take care of all of our students."

Chandler said that academic scholarships for talented students have been increased in the past two years, which would affect retention rates, and other programs have been started to retain more students.

"Academic departments assisted a great deal with our recruiting efforts," Chandler said, "and our entire admissions staff works tirelessly to get all of those applications and transcripts on the computer, whether the students meet our deadline or not."

Sam Houston State University began classes as Sam Houston Normal Institute on October 10, 1879, with 110 students and four faculty members, and was the first teacher-training institution in the Southwestern United States. After becoming Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1923, fall enrollment reached 1,021 in 1932.

In 1965 Sam Houston State Teachers College became Sam Houston State College, and in 1969 the name was changed again to Sam Houston State University. Enrollment doubled during the 1960s, to 10,025 in 1970, and reached 12,359 in 1989.

Graduate Students Win Research Awards

Spear's paper, "Incident Investigation: A Problem-Solving Process," won first place and $250 at the local chapter level and third place and $100 at the regional level competition of the Donald W. Fogarty International Student Paper Competition.

Haywood's paper, "Total Quality Management Compared to Continuous Quality Improvement," won second place and $200 at the local chapter level of the competition.

Both competed against graduate students from universities in the Greater Houston area at the chapter level, and with graduate students from universities in a seven-state area at the regional level. Both papers resulted from research conducted as part of a graduate course in quality assurance management taught by Vic Sower, professor of management.

SHSU students have done well in the competition sponsored by the American Production and Inventory Control Society's Educational and Research Foundation. Since 1993 they have won 1st place at the chapter level six times, 2nd place eight times, and 3rd place twice. In addition, they have claimed one 1st, three 2nds, and three 3rds in regional competition and one 2nd at the national level.

Faculty/Staff Meeting Re-Scheduled

"It is vital that we continue the normal operations of the university in spite of the horrible atrocities that have occurred," James F. Gaertner, Sam Houston president, said in announcing his decision to postpone the meeting.

"However," he said, "this particular faculty/staff meeting was to be both a celebration of faculty and staff accomplishments, and an opportunity for me to present my ideas on new initiatives for the university.

"In my judgment, this type of meeting, that is intended to be both celebratory and uniquely substantive, should not be held on a day of such tragedy and distraction."

Recipients of the 2000-2001 Staff Excellence Award and those who have completed 25 years of service to the university will be recognized.

Counseling Offers Support Group

Between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. the Counseling Center will provide a place for students to meet and discuss their concerns. A counselor will be available. Cookies and drinks will be provided.

In addition, Bernice Strauss, director of the Counseling Center, said that any student who has concerns about the terrorism attacks may call the Counseling Center at 936.294.1720, or stop by the offices in the north annex of the Lee Drain Building at any time.

'Coffee at 5:05'

The Golden Key International Honor Society chapter at SHSU is hosting the event.

Ryan Hoover, junior computer science major from Huntsville, said that everyone is invited, including students, employees, and community residents, and coffee, soft drinks and cookies will be served.

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SHSU Media Contacts: Frank Krystyniak, Julia May
Sept. 16, 2001
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