More than 32K college students enroll in Springfield

While Ozarks Technical Community College and Evangel University recorded increased first-day enrollment, Missouri State and Drury universities experienced slight enrollment decreases.

OTC, MSU and Drury started the fall semester Aug. 22, and Evangel started Aug. 24.

At OTC, 15,212 students were enrolled, an 8.8 percent increase compared to initial enrollment in fall of 2010, according to a news release.

“With the opening of our new facility in Lebanon and our new classrooms in Springfield, we are working hard to provide the classes and study spaces our students need to succeed," OTC Chancellor Hal Higdon said in the release.

While Evangel is still tallying its first-day enrollment figure, Paul Logsdon, director of public relations and publications, said it is safe to say that enrollment is in excess of 2,100 students. That compares to about 2,000 at the beginning of the fall 2010 semester, which settled at 2,072 students.

Logsdon said the school has put a higher emphasis on retention and also has added a marching band this semester, making Evangel the only Assemblies of God college to have one.

"First year, we have 100 students in that," Logsdon said of the band, noting that the band was the deciding factor for about 30 students.

MSU reported first-day enrollment of 18,738 students, down 132, or 0.7 percent, from the beginning of its 2010-11 academic year. Officials, however, are predicting final enrollment figures will come in near last year's record of 23,092 when the school's census is taken on the 20th day of classes. Official system enrollment has seen increases in 14 out of 15 years from 1995-2010, according to a news release.

MSU Interim President Clif Smart said the school's new long-range plan sets a goal for steady, moderate growth between 1 percent and 2 percent.

"That remains our goal, and we are hopeful the final enrollment will be at or above last year’s record. Looking forward, we will redouble our efforts to attract and retain additional students," Smart said in the release.

Drury had opening day school enrollment of 1,628, down slightly from its record, 1,633 students, set at the beginning of the 2010 fall semester, according to a news release.

“Coming off of a record year, this is an outstanding opening day enrollment,” Drury President Todd Parnell said in the release. “Even with a fragile economic recovery nationally, students continue to see the relevance of the education they’ll receive during their time at Drury and the connections they’ll have for the rest of their lives.”

Official enrollment figures will be released later this fall following a Drury census.[[In-content Ad]]