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: Rene Abadie Date: 9/17/03   SOUTHEASTERN ENROLLMENT AT RECORD HIGH, ACT SCORES UP       HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s fall 2003 enrollment of 15,662 set a university record, while higher average ACT scores for incoming freshmen reflected the university’s goal of attracting better prepared students, Southeastern officials announced Wednesday (Sept. 17).       The university’s previously high enrollment of 15,334 occurred in fall 1998.       “We are certainly pleased with our enrollment growth, which in part reflects the population growth trends of the region we serve,” said Southeastern President Randy Moffett. “But we are especially pleased with the overall improving quality and college preparedness of our incoming freshman, a goal we set to achieve three years ago when quality admission standards were implemented.”       The average composite American College Test (ACT) score for beginning freshmen at Southeastern this year is 19.9, an increase over last year’s 19.6 composite score. The number of students with ACT scores of 24 or above increased by 20 percent, while students enrolled in developmental courses decreased by 8.5 percent.       In addition, the number of beginning freshman coming from outside Southeastern’s traditional service area nearly doubled. “We believe the growing geographic diversity of our student body reflects an increasing interest around the state in the Southeastern’s academic programs,” Moffett said. “We have taken steps in recent years to enhance the university experience for students by adding new academic degree programs, developing additional extracurricular activities, improved athletic programs, and opportunities for service learning and community involvement.”       “Our focus in recent years has been to attract students who are better prepared for the university experience,” Moffett added. He noted that Southeastern now offers an honors curriculum in every degree program, opportunities for undergraduates to participate in funded research and artistic activities with faculty, and enhanced scholarship offerings for qualified incoming students.       He said that in 2005 Southeastern will again raise admission standards as part of the state’s master plan for higher education, a factor that could impact future enrollment growth.       Contributing to the increased enrollment is a nearly 25 percent increase in new graduate students, with 497 new students enrolled in graduate programs. A significant factor in the growing graduate enrollment is attributed to Southeastern’s new Master of Arts in Teaching program, an alternative teaching certification program for college graduates with non-education backgrounds to become certified teachers. In recent years Southeastern also added other graduate programs in applied sociology, organizational communication, and integrated science and technology.        Broken down by classification, the fall 2003 student body includes 5,308 freshmen, 2,754 sophomores, 2,281 juniors, 3,286 seniors, and 2,033 graduate students. In addition, Southeastern enrolled more than 160 international students from 53 different foreign countries.       Tangipahoa Parish continues to be Southeastern’s top feeder parish, with a total of 3,562. The other top parishes sending students to the university are St. Tammany, 3,288; East Baton Rouge, 2,190; Livingston, 1,857; Jefferson, 843; Ascension, 654; and Washington, 610. Jefferson Parish showed the largest gain, a 9.20 percent increase over last fall, followed by Ascension Parish with a 9 percent increase and East Baton Rouge with a 7.56 percent increase over the same period.  Return to News Releases