SMSU enrollment numbers increase

Enrollment at Southwest Missouri State University's Springfield and West Plains campuses is up. The totals for both campuses for the 2002 fall semester's Aug. 19 opening day is 18,978, compared to 18,561 for opening day 2001, an SMSU news release said.

The Springfield campus increased by 374 students (2.2 percent) to 17,316. The West Plains campus increased by 43 students (2.6 percent) to 1,662.

Don Simpson, assistant vice president for enrollment management and services, attributed the increases to SMSU's wide variety of educational programs and student services.

Simpson said enrollment is up in nearly every student category, including 190 new first-time freshman (2.2 percent); 28 new transfer students (2.8 percent); and 46 new degree-seeking graduate students (11.4 percent).