Source: Pat Bosco, 785-532-6237; http://consider.k-state.edu/
News release prepared by: Cheryl May and Beth Bohn, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu
Thursday, September 20, 2007
K-STATE POSTS RECORD ENROLLMENT TOTALS
MANHATTAN -- More students have chosen to attend Kansas State University than ever before, giving the university an all-time record fall enrollment of 23,332, up from 23,141 a year ago.
Pat Bosco, associate vice president for institutional advancement and dean of student life, said, "We are very pleased with our enrollments this fall. Students are getting the message that K-State has an environment that encourages excellence in both students and faculty. Our professors are among the best in the nation and they mentor and encourage our students so they can compete with students anywhere.
"Many people are aware of K-State's outstanding success with student scholars -- first in the nation among public universities in Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater and Udall competition since 1986. They may not realize that our professors have been recognized consistently by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education as professors of the year. In fact, K-State is tied for first in that competition with Rutgers and the University of California at Berkeley."
K-State President Jon Wefald said K-State is living up to its billing as one of the nation's "cutting-edge schools," per a new college guide by Kaplan Publishing.
"Our record enrollment shows students want to attend K-State because it offers programs in many of the 50 hottest career choices, as identified by undergraduates across the country surveyed for the Kaplan guide. For example, our pre-health professions program, the largest area of study at K-State and one of the hot career choices nationally, has a record enrollment this year."
K-State's enrollment increases also are in several key areas.
"This year's student body is K-State's most diverse ever," Wefald said, "with numbers of students of color and international students also setting all-time highs."
K-State's enrollment of students of color is at 1,973, up from the previous high of 1,870. The total includes record highs for African-American students at 818, and Hispanic/Mexican-American students at 675.
K-State has 1,220 international students, a 15-year high. The total includes 65 students from China studying in Manhattan.
"Ken Holland, K-State's associate provost for international programs, has done a superb job in recruiting international students to the university. He has helped spread the message across the world that K-State is great place to get an education in a friendly and welcoming environment," Bosco said.
Bosco said for the second consecutive year, resident freshmen enrollment is up at K-State. This year's class includes 2,842 freshmen from Kansas, up from 2,785 students last year.
Also setting a record is K-State's out-of-state student enrollment, now at a record 4,531.
Another notable increase in enrollment is at K-State at Salina, where student numbers have jumped about 11 percent from last year. The campus reports an enrollment of 864.
The university's enrollment not only increased on campus, but off campus as well, Bosco said.
"A record number of students -- 2,753, up from 2,476 last year -- have enrolled through K-State's Division of Continuing Education," he said, "with our English as a Second Language program attracting the largest increase in off-campus students."