Enrollment shows sizable increase

Texas A&M University-Commerce's enrollment is up 9.44 percent according to a document released a week prior to the semester's start.

This comparison is based on the numbers recorded on Aug. 17, 2008 and those obtained Aug. 23, 2009. Increases in enrollment are seen almost across the board with the only exception being non-degree graduate student numbers, which have dropped 4.42 percent.

Doctoral student enrollment has shown the largest increase with a 23.31 percent gain over last year. The junior and freshman classes are also boasting high numbers, sitting at 17.71 percent and a 17.15 percent increase respectively.

Senior and sophomore student enrollment has also increased posting a 5.82 percent increase and an 8.16 percent increase respectively.

Over all, there are 8,976 students enrolled at TAMU-C compared to the 8,202 students that were listed at the beginning of the fall semester last year.

Dean of students, Brian Nichols, said the increase was not an accident.

"There was a real strong push to get more students in," he said.

According to Nichols, since the semester has started there has been a seven percent increase, which appears to be holding. He said the numbers released prior to the start of the semester always tend to be a bit higher then the final enrollment. The university's public goal was a five percent increase he said, but unofficially they were hoping for a 10 percent improvement.

"The entire university has helped to get the word out," he said.

The university police are also preparing for the increase and beginning of the semester.

Lt. Jason Bone said UPD is doing what they normally do at the first part of the semester.

"We hit the ground running on the first day of class and will continue to have an increased presence throughout the beginning of this semester," he said. "We have extra people out in uniform to assist our students, faculty and staff. We usually keep this pace until things calm down a little."

With the influx of students, Bone said he has seen a rise in the number of events held on campus as well.

"We have seen an increase in sporting, social and conference events over the last year or two," he said. "I see no foreseeable reversal in this trend."

Even with issues that naturally come with more students, Nichols said the important thing right now is to make sure every student is taken care of individually.

"We have made some extremely positive shifts in our student body," he said.