POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Three Rivers College for the first time in its history began the fall semester with more than 4,000 students enrolled.

Classes resumed Monday with 4,199 students, a more than 12.5 percent increase over the previous fall. It comes with a nearly 15 percent increase in credit hours taken, to 46,303.

"This is a really good sign," president Dr. Devin Stephenson said Wednesday, during the board of trustees' monthly meeting. "It's a sign of health."

Celebrations were held Thursday at Kennett, Malden, Dexter, Sikeston and Poplar Bluff to mark the 4,000 enrollment.

Stephenson attributed the increased enrollment to the quality of programs, a reasonable price and marketing.

Of the nearly 500-student bump, only about 10 percent came at the main campus, which has a fall enrollment of 1,892.

All of the off-campus sites have reached capacity, Stephenson said.

"This semester has been building now for some time," he said, following the meeting. "We are filling a need where there is a need. … Three Rivers does off-campus education better than anybody, and I think we have more off-campus sites than any other institution."

Off-campus enrollment increases compared to fall 2010 are (total students are listed in parentheses): Sikeston 16.5 percent (402); Kennett 29.2 percent (221); Cape Girardeau 70.5 percent (278); Internet 2.5 percent (826); and other off-campus and dual credit classes 10.1 percent (305).

Malden saw a little more than a 9 percent decrease in students.

Stephenson believes this is due to the Dexter center, which opened in January.

"We have centers at Kennett and Dexter now," he said. "We knew there would be a slight settling and shifting. I think that is to be expected as part of the redesign of the college."

Credit hour production at off-campus sites, at 22,861 hours, makes up nearly half of Three Rivers' total.

Facilities at Cape Girardeau and Kennett saw the greatest increase in credit hours, at approximately 29 and 47 percent, respectively.

Three Rivers continues to pursue opening a new off-campus site in Willow Springs, Stephenson said. The college has been asked to present information to city officials during the first week of September. A decision is expected soon after. If approved, the college would like to begin classes there in January.

"We will not go into this without knowing where all the opportunities are and the impediments," Stephenson promised, adding the center could be opened with few up front costs.

The building there, which will house operations for the institution chosen by city officials, needs few renovations and can be leased very inexpensively, Stephenson said.

Specific start up costs were not available.

Pertinent address:

3080 Three Rivers Blvd., Poplar Bluff, MO