Fall Enrollment of 14,371 is New Record

Sam Houston State University's fall enrollment is a new record, and few times its 125- year history have there been larger increases, either in numbers or percentages.

The final 2004 fall semester count is 14,371--911 more than a year ago. That is almost 7 percent more than 2003. Pacing the increase are 312 more beginning freshmen (17%) and 63 more doctoral students (42.28%).

These numbers were adjusted from those announced on the 12th class day, and include 36 distance learning students. The number reported to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will not include distance learning students, because they are not part of the reimbursement formula.

Few times in Sam Houston State's history has there been such rapid growth. One such time was the fall of 1946, when servicemen and women returning from World War II more than doubled the year's previous enrollment of 898. That fall the count was 1,853.

Another growth spurt came at the end of the 1960s. In two years, 1969 and 1970, enrollment shot from 7,670 to 10,025, including a jump of 1,423 students from 1969 to 1970.

Several Sam Houston State University officials said that this year's growth is good for the campus, but that with it comes additional responsibilities.

"We've been working hard to keep up with the additional numbers of students requiring services," said Terry Thibodeaux, interim dean of the newly created College of Humanities and Social Sciences. "The smaller colleges will be able to provide better services to students and faculty, and help them adapt better to the inevitable growing pains the university will be going through."

Genevieve Brown, dean of the College of Education, said that the doctoral programs in her area are booming.

That college's first doctorate, in educational leadership, has added programs in community college leadership and higher education leadership. In addition, the newer doctorate in counselor education has really taken off in its second year, with 16 new students in that program.

Brown said that there has also been a large increase in public school teacher/administrators who are returning for certification.

"Many attribute this growth to a slow economy," she said, "coupled with the job opportunities created when so many people under the Teacher Retirement System retired this summer to be eligible for certain social security benefits."

As for the undergraduate increases, Joey Chandler, director of admissions/recruitment, believes that we are doing a better job of "getting the word out" about all of the opportunities and improvements being made at SHSU.

She listed such factors as new housing, the SAMCenter advising and retention programs, and new admissions standards adopted in 2002.

"Students want to go to a college that is more difficult to get into," she said.

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See Related Story: Enrollment Record is Tribute to 125 Years of Progress

SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
Sept. 16, 2004
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