Pittsburg State sets spring enrollment record

Pittsburg State University has set a record for spring enrollment with a total of 6,752 students -- a 2.4 percent increase over the spring 2009 semester. PSU reported the numbers to the Kansas Board of Regents for the annual spring 20th day count of the six state universities.

"We are extremely pleased to see this number," PSU President Steve Scott said. "Even with the budget challenges we face, which have resulted in a cut of $4.7 million in state funding, Kansas students and parents continue to see Pittsburg State as offering a great value when they consider postsecondary education options. Clearly that is the result of the efforts of the entire campus community. I'm very proud of and grateful to our faculty and staff. They have put the budget challenges aside and have focused on ensuring a quality experience for our students."

PSU is experiencing increases in several areas, including a 14 percent increase in new freshmen, an 8 percent increase in transfer students, a 35 percent increase in graduate students, and a 9 percent increase in Gorilla Advantage students. The university has also seen a 66-student increase in the number of Kansas residents.

PSU officials said the university is also becoming the choice of more domestic minority students. This spring, minority enrollment is up 7.5 percent, with Hispanic students constituting the largest increase, 13 percent. There is also a 9 percent increase in American Indian students and an 8 percent increase in African-American students.

"We feel very good about this, and we give a lot of credit to our people who do so much in the way of recruitment and retention," PSU Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Success William Ivy said. "People are returning to school to increase their skills and marketability in the workplace, and they are seeing PSU as the place to do that."

Enrollment figures released last week by the Regents show an increase of 1,886 students at the state's six universities. This represents a 2.2 percent increase for the 2010 spring semester over the 2009 spring semester. The state's six universities reported a combined enrollment of 86,815 students as of the 20th day of classes, according to the KBOR.

According to KBOR data, 4,850 students attending PSU this spring are Kansas residents, while 1,902 are nonresidents. KBOR figures also show that 6,133 PSU students are taking classes on campus, while 619 students are taking classes off-campus. All of these enrollment numbers are increases from spring 2009 totals at PSU.