SEMO ENROLLMENT JUMPS 5 PERCENT THIS SEMESTER

Southeast Missouri State University has 5 percent more students enrolled this spring semester than it did a year ago.

Overall headcount stood at 7,317 Tuesday, the first day of classes, up 326 students from a year ago.

Enrollment declined 5 percent from the spring of 1994 to the spring of 1995. "So to be up 5 percent from the spring of '95 to the spring of '96 is very good," said Dr. Fred Snider, director of institutional research for the school.

Undergraduate headcount stood at 6,608 Tuesday, up 263 students or 4 percent from spring 1995.

There were 1,540 freshmen enrolled, up 22 or 1 percent from a year ago.

Most of the increase was in beginning freshmen. Southeast had 112 beginning freshmen enrolled this semester, up 19 from last spring.

"We don't usually get a lot of beginning freshmen for the spring semester," said Art Wallhausen, assistant to the president.

Sophomore headcount was down 33 students to 1,377. The school had 1,456 juniors enrolled and 1,811 seniors, up 26 and 29 students, respectively.

Graduate headcount stood at 709, up 63 students or 10 percent from a year ago.

Final census figures won't be determined for the spring semester until mid-February, school officials said.

But Snider and other officials welcomed the first-day numbers. The university also experienced enrollment gains last fall.

"We certainly are glad that the trend continues upward," said Wallhausen.

The spring gain suggests more students are returning to Southeast, Wallhausen said.