\nOXFORD,
\nMiss. – Enrollment rose for the 13th consecutive year at the University
\nof Mississippi, where a record 17,601 students are taking classes this
\nfall at five locations.<\/p>\n
Preliminary figures released today UM’s total unduplicated enrollment last year was 17,323 students. “We’ve not only recorded our largest enrollment but also our largest class of honors students and our most diverse student body ever. Additionally, as a national university, we’re happy to have students from across the nation as a part of our community.”<\/p>\n A record 2,312 students are enrolled at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, up 5.4 percent over last fall. Nearly 24 percent (548) of UMMC’s students are minorities.<\/p>\n Figures also indicate tremendous growth at UM’s satellite campuses in Tupelo, where 717 students are enrolled (up 16.4 percent over last fall), and Southaven, where 898 students are taking classes (up 5.3 percent). In Grenada, where UM began offering graduate-level education classes for the first time this spring, 73 students are enrolled.<\/p>\n \u00a0Also up at UM is the number of new transfer students, which grew by 5.1 percent.<\/p>\n On the Oxford campus – where until last fall, enrollment had grown steadily for more than a decade and put pressure on faculty and classroom and residence hall space – staff are talking about “controlled growth.”<\/p>\n “We have 54 more full-time faculty members this year than last, so our faculty-to-student ratio is approaching 18:1,” said Noel Wilkin, interim associate provost. “Additionally, we have created 12 new faculty positions and will begin working to fill those in coming months.”<\/p>\n UM’s first residential college opens next fall, and its new law school building opens a year later, freeing up the current law building for classroom use.<\/p>\n “We believe controlled growth is what’s best for our campus,” said Whitman Smith, director of enrollment services.\u00a0 “We’re committed to providing exceptional learning opportunities for students.”<\/p>\n Forbes.com just ranked UM the 23rd best public college in the nation, Smith said. “The reputation of our academic and research programs extends beyond our state’s borders, as does our reputation as a university that is a laboratory for training tomorrow’s leaders.<\/p>\n “When you combine that with our extremely affordable cost and opportunities for student involvement, it makes us a very attractive choice for students and parents.”<\/p>\n UM’s 2,377-member freshman class is the university’s third-largest and includes 23 National Merit Finalists, four National Achievement Finalists, two National Merit Semifinalists and one National Achievement Semifinalist.<\/p>\n The Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College has enrolled a record 781 students, including 76 minorities and 562 (72 percent) Mississippians.<\/p>\n The Honors College also enrolled a record 255 freshmen this fall. In addition to Mississippi, they come from 18 states and one foreign country. <\/p>\n For more information about academic programs at UM, visit http:\/\/www.olemiss.edu<\/a> .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\n(Sept. 16) by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher
\nLearning<\/a>\u00a0show UM’s total unduplicated headcount represents 278 more
\nstudents enrolled this fall than last on all its campuses – a 1.6
\npercent increase. Figures also indicate that 69.1 percent (12,171) of
\nUM’s students are from Mississippi, and 19.9 percent (3,503) are
\nminorities.<\/p>\n
\n
“Our enrollment focus is two-fold: strengthening access for Mississippians and continuing to attract students with high academic and leadership ability. This year’s class reflects both,” Chancellor Robert Khayat said.<\/p>\n