Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES-More new students attending Stephen F. Austin State University contributed to a continued increase in overall enrollment this spring, 12th class day figures released by the university today show.

First-time students--defined as undergraduates entering college for the first time after high school--combined with first-time transfers increased to 425, up 27 from 398 in spring 2005, for a 6.8 percent increase in total new students.

Overall enrollment for the university is 10,628 this spring, up 0.6 percent or 64 students from 10,564 in spring 2005.

"We're pleased that we can report continued growth in our overall enrollment, and it's particularly gratifying to report the continued increases in new students," said Dr. Tito Guerrero, SFA president. "This demonstrates the many initiatives undertaken not only by our Office of Admissions but by our entire campus are paying off.

"Seeing continued increases in diversity of our student body also is good news. Increasing the number of students from underrepresented populations seeking a college degree fits with the state of Texas' Closing the Gaps initiative."

The Nelson Rusche College of Business showed the largest growth in both number and percentage of students. Total business enrollment this spring is 1,737, up 104 students or 6.4 percent from 1,633 the previous spring.

Dr. Violet Rogers, dean of the college, attributed those gains to students' increased interest in business as a major and an intensive focus on recruiting and retaining students.

"Every department, faculty member, department chair and administrative assistant in the college has worked hard to increase enrollment," she said. "We have renewed our emphasis on personal attention and are corresponding more frequently with current and prospective students."

The accounting and general business departments, in particular, have seen increases in majors, she said.

Recent donations also have enhanced the college's prestige, Rogers said. The addition of a trading room for finance students is among building modifications made possible with private funds. The space, incorporating wood and marble for a corporate look, features an electronic ticker tape that feeds current stock market quotations to the room.

In addition to approximately $150,000 in donations that allowed the college to create the room and subscribe to the ticker tape service, another $60,000 was allocated for a student investment fund. This fund allows students to actively buy and trade stocks.

Other areas registering increases in overall enrollment from spring 2005 were the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, with 555 students, up 23 for a 4.3 percent increase from 532; the College of Fine Arts, with 691 students, up 19 for a 2.8 percent increase from 672; and the College of Education, with 3,308 students, up 17 for a 0.5 percent increase from 3,291.

Diversity at the university also continues to increase. Hispanic students showed the largest gain this spring with 779, up 55 for a 7.6 percent increase from 724 in spring a year ago.

Also increasing were African-American students, 1,681 this spring, up 48 for a 2.9 percent increase from 1,633 in spring 2005; and international students, 122 this spring, up 15 for a 14 percent increase from 107 last spring. American Indian and Asian-Pacific Islander numbers were up as well.