Following plans to steadily increase enrollment, Texas A&M University once again boosted its population, with nearly 48,000 students enrolled in classes on the first day of the fall semester.

The record enrollment -- 47,925 students, according to preliminary data -- is the result of a two-year, planned expansion designed to increase the public's access to higher education, according to Alice Reinarz, assistant provost for enrollment at A&M. The figure also is likely to help maintain -- if not boost -- Texas A&M's status as the sixth-largest university in the nation.

The university also is boasting this year of its largest freshman class -- 8,127 students, according to preliminary data -- which officials said is one of the largest in the nation.

Though figures won't be final until the 20th class day, the overall enrollment for fall 2008 has grown by 1,383 students when compared with fall 2007. Reinarz said the planned expansion was focused in particular on growth among both freshmen and graduate students. Preliminary data shows 8,967 graduate students enrolled this fall -- a 272-student increase from last fall.

Another 503 students are pursuing their doctor of veterinary medicine through the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, university officials said.

Reinarz said the planned expansion began in 2006. It was prompted in part by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Closing the Gaps initiative, which calls for an increase in college enrollment. But that wasn't the sole motivating factor for Texas A&M, Reinarz said.

"We are working very hard to increase the diversity of the university," Reinarz said, explaining that A&M has been trying to recruit more minority and first-generation students, as well as diversify on the basis of socioeconomic status, geography and academic interests.

"We've been actively involved since fall 2003 in the recruitment of targeted students across the state to increase this diversity."

The two biggest initiatives launched as part of the intensive recruiting efforts include regional prospective student centers and the Regents' Scholarship program. The program provides a $5,000 annual scholarship to certain first-generation students who come from low-income families.

Administrators likely will come together again this year to discuss future goals now that the university has hit its mark, Reinarz said.

Reinarz also pointed to minority enrollment, which is making slow but steady gains. A record 5,848 Hispanic students are enrolled this fall, which is an increase of 566 students over last year. There are 1,553 black students enrolled, which is a 140-student increase.

Among freshmen, there are 1,322 Hispanics and 305 blacks this fall, officials said.

"We're very proud of the fact that approximately one-quarter of our freshman class will be first-generation, that we continue to increase the geographic diversity in the class," Reinarz said. "Our underrepresented minority student numbers [for freshmen this fall] will exceed the numbers for Texas A&M before the Hopwood decision," an appeals court ruling that prohibited the use of race as a factor in university admissions policies.

Texas A&M Fall 2008 enrollment data

* 47,925 total students enrolled for fall 2008 -- a 1,383 student increase when compared to fall 2007

* 8,967 graduate students, a 272-student increase from last year

* 8,127 freshmen, including 1,322 Hispanic students and 305 black students. Of the freshmen, 585 were enrolled through a cooperative program with Blinn College.

Ethnic breakdown

* 5,848 Hispanic students, which is 566 more than last year

* 1,553 black students, which is 140 more than last year

*preliminary first-day registration numbers

Comments

(Requires free registration.)

0 comment(s) found!