Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- New undergraduate applications rose and the number of first-time freshman who returned for a second year grew for the 2007 fall semester at Stephen F. Austin State University. Overall enrollment, however, declined 1.3 percent to 11,607, according to the 12th day of classes data used to measure year-to-year performance.

Applications rose 1.2 percent to 10,657 when compared with 2006 data.

A 2003 increase in admission standards resulted in smaller classes of entering first-time freshman in 2003 and 2004, said Monique Cossich, executive director of enrollment management.

In an effort to increase the academic quality of students, SFA instituted a change in admission standards for the class entering in 2003 that resulted in a first-time freshman enrollment decline that year of 229 students compared with those in 2002. The trend continued in 2004 when only 1,684 first-time freshman students enrolled. The two-year cumulative first-time freshmen group decline totaled 299 students.

“It’s not unusual to see an enrollment decline following an effort to increase the quality of students by raising admissions standards,” Cossich said.

In addition to the impact of the two smaller classes, SFA witnessed the largest graduating class in its history in May 2007 when the university awarded its 100,000th degree. The May class included 1,036 graduates. The previous record was set in May 2005, with a graduating class that included 1,019, the largest class since 1976, when 974 graduates received diplomas.

Despite the decline, the number of first-time freshman students who returned this semester increased by 195 when compared with fall 2006.

“The increased number of students suggests that recent improvements may be encouraging them to stay at SFA,” Cossich said.

New construction totaling approximately $168 million to improve the campus experience for students includes residence halls, a student center expansion, a recreation center and three new parking garages.

“When the new student recreation center opens later this month, students will have yet another reason to attend SFA,” Cossich said.

The 78,000-square-foot student recreation center features a 39-foot freestanding rock climbing wall and cave; a large cardio-fitness area and weight room; two multi-sport courts for basketball, volleyball, and badminton; a diving pool; spa; and a 270-foot-long lazy river.

Construction in the planning stages includes an educational research center and the renovation of a facility for the School of Nursing.

SFA also showed gains as it continued to make progress on the State of Texas’ Closing the Gap initiative to increase college enrollment of students from underrepresented populations. African American enrollment grew 5.1 percent to 2,051, while Hispanic enrollment increased 2.8 percent to 977.