News release Public Information Office   SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu     www.selu.edu/news Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 6/30/03   SOUTHEASTERN SUMMER ENROLLMENT UP 9 PERCENT       HAMMOND – Enrollment for Southeastern Louisiana University’s summer 2003 semester tops 6,000 students and reflects a more than nine percent increase over last summer’s headcount.       The university’s enrollment profile, issued after the first seven class days, shows a total of 6,042 students attending summer classes, as compared to 5,538 enrolled in summer 2002.        The profile also reflects a 15.4 percent increase in beginning freshmen, and a more than 50 percent increase in new graduate students.       “The university piloted a new scheduling option this summer in an attempt to meet the changing needs of our students,” said President Randy Moffett. Traditionally students attend class four days a week during the summer. “This summer, we offered students an option of scheduling some courses two days rather than four. We increased the number of available two-week term courses and added additional online courses to accommodate student needs. The feedback we have received thus far indicates that students like and appreciate the new scheduling flexibility.”       Moffett said the new scheduling option piloted this summer may have helped boost the summer headcount.        Michael Kurtz, dean of Southeastern’s Graduate School, attributes the increase in new graduate student numbers to the quality and growth of the university’s master’s degree programs. Southeastern has instituted four new graduate programs over the past two years, including the Master of Arts in Teaching, which is offered via the Internet, and programs in Organizational Communication, Applied Sociology and Integrated Science and Technology.       “Because of the shortage of teachers, which is projected to increase in the next decade, there are good job opportunities available in teaching fields,” Kurtz said. “The graduate program is attractive to individuals with degrees in non-education subjects who want to go into teaching.  Our program allows them to obtain the certifications they need to teach.”       He added, “All of our graduate programs that are eligible for accreditation are accredited. That helps attract more students, including those from other countries.”       Tangipahoa Parish continues to be Southeastern’s top feeder parish, with a total of 1,553 students from the parish. The other top parishes sending students to Southeastern include St. Tammany, 1,255; East Baton Rouge, 825; Livingston, 624; Washington, 289; and Jefferson, 277.  Washington Parish showed the largest gain, a 26.8 percent increase over summer 2002.       Freshmen enrollment for summer totals 1,092, while there are 860 sophomores, 959 juniors, 1,727 seniors and 1,404 graduate students attending the summer session. A total of 4,296 students are female and 1,746 are male. Return to News Releases