PSU sets spring enrollment record

Pittsburg State University continues to set enrollment records. The university's spring enrollment of 6,422 students is the highest spring enrollment in PSU’s history, according to Lee Christensen, associate vice president for academic programs, and the university's increase in on-campus enrollment was the largest of any state university in Kansas. The Kansas Board of Regents reported enrollment data for all of the state's universities today.

On-campus enrollment for the spring semester at PSU increased by 155 students to 5,989. Systemwide, on-campus enrollment declined by 434 students. The Kansas Regents system includes Pittsburg State University, the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Fort Hays State University and Emporia State University.

"Pittsburg State has set a record in each of the past three spring semesters," Christensen said. "The university's steady growth is certainly a positive sign for both PSU and the community."

This semester's enrollment of 6,422 is up 87 students over spring 2006, which is an increase of 1.4 percent. Christensen said that undergraduate enrollment (5,320) was up 122 or 2.3 percent over the previous year. In addition to headcount, PSU also recorded strong gains in credit hour production. For the spring 2007 semester, PSU students are enrolled in 84,460 hours of instruction. That record number is an increase of 1.9 percent over the previous year.

Christensen pointed out that high credit hour production relative to headcount reflects an unusually high percentage of full-time students on campus.

"That's important from the community perspective," Christensen said, "because it means students are in the community supporting the businesses and institutions upon which the community depends."

Christensen credited PSU's continued growth to an increasing awareness both locally and in the region of the university's programs and campus culture.

"Pittsburg State is the first choice for a growing number of students who want high quality academic programs and a friendly campus atmosphere at a price they can afford," Christensen said.

---Pitt State---