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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Source: Pat Bosco, 785-532-6237; http://consider.k-state.edu/
News release prepared by: Cheryl May, 785-532-6415, may@k-state.edu

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008

Total includes record number of new freshmen and international students:
K-STATE POSTS RECORD ENROLLMENT TOTAL OF 23,520

MANHATTAN -- Kansas State University's campus this fall is more diverse than ever. The university's record fall enrollment of 23,520 includes more students of color, especially Hispanic and African American students, and more international students as well as a record number of freshman students.

"All of us at K-State are thrilled that we have a record enrollment of 23,520 students," said K-State President Jon Wefald, "and we are also delighted that K-State has a record number of students of color and international students as well."

K-State's enrollment of students of color is 2,278, up from the previous high last year of 1,973. The total includes record highs for African-American students at 838, and Hispanic/Mexican-American students at 756. K-State has 1,431 international students, up from 1,220 last year. That total includes 431 students from China.

"K-State has a record 3,656 freshman students on campus this fall," Wefald said. "And they are one of our strongest classes ever. I foresee bright futures for them. We have seven Kassebaum scholars, three Farm Bureau Financial Services Civic Leadership scholars, five Edgerley-Franklin Urban Leadership scholars,128 Robert J. Dole scholars and 134 Presidential and Putnam scholars."

Pat Bosco, vice president for student life and dean of students, credited President Wefald's leadership for the record-setting fall enrollments.

"Under Jon Wefald's leadership, K-State has not only increased enrollment substantially since he took over in 1986, but he has led the charge to recruit and retain the state's best and brightest students," Bosco said. "The result has been K-State achieving the top spot among state universities in producing Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater and Udall scholars.

"K-State has great students and they are mentored by great professors," Bosco said. "K-State has been recognized more often by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education with Kansas professors of the year than any other school in the state. K-State is tied for first in national professors of the year for research universities with Rutgers and the University of California at Berkeley."

The effort to bring more international students to campus has been successful as well. This year's enrollment of 1,431 international students is an all-time record.

M. Duane Nellis, provost and senior vice president, supervises international programs and international recruitment. He credited Kristine Young, interim associate provost of international programs, and Jim Lewis, director of international pre-admissions and recruiting, for their efforts in recruiting new undergraduate students from foreign countries.

"There is tremendous value in getting to know students from different cultures," Nellis said. "These friendships not only enhance an individual's personal experiences, but also help students understand other cultures. This is vital in an increasingly global society."

Nellis said the need to more aggressively "internationalize" students' university experiences is vitally important,

"That will mean more incentives for faculty to create opportunities for students internationally. Details of a new university grant program for faculty to support such activities will be announced soon."