036 RECORD 22,543 STUDENTS FOR FIRST DAY

Date: Aug. 29, 2006

Editorial contact: Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919
Enrollment contact: Dr. Sherian Huddleston, 615-898-2828
Enrollment/Student Affairs contact: Dr. Bob Glenn, 615-898-2440
Academic Affairs contact: Dr. Kaylene Gebert, 615-898-2880


(MURFREESBORO) — (MURFREESBORO) — University faculty, staff and administrators welcomed a record 22,543 students for Day 1 of fall 2006 semester classes that began today (Aug. 28), said Dr. Sherian Huddleston, associate vice provost, enrollment services,.
This is an increase of 290 students from Aug. 29, 2005, when 22,253 students were registered on the first day, she added. MTSU anticipates a 3 percent enrollment increase this fall, based on the midnight Aug. 27 data.
First-day enrollment totals include 15,479 returning students, 3,374 new freshmen, 1,927 transfers, 1,162 re-enrolling students and 2,079 graduate students, she said.
Final enrollment totals will not be available until after the 14-day census date, which will fall on Sunday, Sept. 10. They will be made public soon after being sent to the Tennessee Board of Regents.
Huddleston said the lowering of hours for undergraduates to graduate from 132 to 120 several years ago “is contributing to our not-so-fast increase (in enrollment).” The recent August commencement was 11 percent higher than 2004 and the May ’05 graduation saw a 15.7 percent increase from May ’04.
“We shall continue to aggressively pursue our Academic Master Plan goals,” President Sidney A. McPhee said during the Fall Faculty Meeting Aug. 25. “We shall continue to seek approval for new selected academic programs at the undergraduate levels, renovate existing facilities and construct new ones, manage enrollment growth and resources and pursue new opportunities that advance our mission.”
Other than higher roadway congestion because of commuting students and employees, few problems were encountered early in the day, university officials said.


Anyone who has not registered can register through Aug. 29 and pay a $100 late fee without getting special permission, Huddleston said. After Aug. 29, prospective students must receive special permission from the course instructor when registering.
Students already registered can add classes through Thursday, Aug. 31, Huddleston added.




MTSU Enrollment Number Comparisons
(As of midnight Aug. 27)

Fall 2005 Fall 2006 Difference

Undergraduates

First-time freshmen 3,198 3,374 + 176
New transfers 1,948 1,927 - 21
Returning students 13,860 15,479 +1619
Re-enrollees 1,121 1,162 +41
Other new undergrads* 49 30 -19
Concurrent H.S. 8 9 +1
enrollment**

Total 20,184 20,464 +280



Graduates 2,069 2,079 +10


Composite total 22,253 22,543 +290 (1.3%)


* — Special undergraduates (non-degree seeking students)
** — Currently enrolled high school students taking courses for college credit

Source: MTSU Enrollment Services

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