News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu     www.selu.edu/news Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 2/11/03   SOUTHEASTERN SPRING 2003 ENROLLMENT SETS RECORD       HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University has set an all-time record for spring semester enrollment.       The university’s spring 2003 enrollment profile shows that a total of 14,799 students are attending classes, a 7.3 percent increase over spring 2002's 13,787 students. The official headcount tops the previous spring semester enrollment record of 14,433 reached in 1998.       Southeastern President Randy Moffett attributed the enrollment increase to “quality programs that contribute to a solid educational experience and are relevant to workforce needs.”       He added that higher admission standards, as well as academic enhancements such as new honors programs in every major and opportunities for undergraduate research are helping Southeastern attract better prepared students.       Moffett pointed out that even stronger admission standards will go into effect in 2005 as part of the state’s higher education master plan. “While we are pleased with our current growth, we recognize that factors such as this may affect future enrollment,” he said.       The spring 2003 profile also shows that average American College Test (ACT) composite scores for beginning freshman are up 2.4 percent over spring 2002, said Stephen Soutullo, director of Academic Services..        As it did last fall, graduate enrollment also took a big leap, increasing by more than 100 students, from 243 last spring to 359 students, Soutullo said. According to Michael Kurtz, dean of the Graduate School, the graduate student increase is the second highest since 1981. The university has instituted four new graduate programs, the Master of Arts in Teaching and graduate degrees in applied sociology, organizational communication and integrated science and technology.       Spurred by an influx of school paraprofessionals, the university’s Special Program for Adults increased from 21 students last spring to 134 this semester. Gayle Neal, assistant dean of Continuing Education, said Southeastern is working with six area school districts to offer on-site or compressed video courses to paraprofessionals who must meet by 2006 specific educational requirements mandated by the “No Child Left Behind” law.        Broken down by classification, spring 2003 enrollment includes 4,238 freshmen, 2,827 sophomores, 2,448 juniors, 3,278 seniors, and 2,008 graduate students. Tangipahoa Parish continues to be Southeastern’s top feeder parish, with a total of 3,601 students from the parish. The other top parishes sending students to Southeastern include St. Tammany, 3,116; East Baton Rouge, 2.023; Livingston, 1,741; Jefferson, 751, and Washington, 628.        For the second consecutive semester, St. Tammany Parish showed the largest gain, a 10.7 percent increase over spring 2002. The number of students from East Baton Rouge also showed an almost 10 percent increase. Return to News Releases