Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 2/11/99
      Contact:                           Tim Ardillo

SOUTHEASTERN RELEASES SPRING ENROLLMENT PROFILE
       Student Credit Hours Up; Slight Enrollment Decline
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University's Spring enrollment figures are out
and reflect the early impact of ongoing initiatives.  The data shows that students are taking more
credit hours, despite a slight decrease in Spring enrollment.  
     "We are pleased with these results.  The word is out that we are working to improve our
mission by focusing on quality and school readiness.  I believe we are seeing the initial reaction
to our message of quality, our continuing students are enrolling in more courses and working
more seriously toward graduation," Dr. Randy Moffett said.
     The 14,314 students currently enrolled in classes are taking 178,096 credit hours, that's up
from 176,799 hours taken last Spring.   The student body last year numbered 14,433.
     Enrollment increased in five of the University's top feeder parishes -- Tangipahoa (3,041),
St. Tammany (2,929), Livingston (1,582) and Jefferson (1,057).  However, as expected,
enrollment in East Baton Rouge (2,247) declined.  
     "We have experienced stable enrollment over the last two years and record-breaking
graduation classes.  As those students move through the pipeline, we will begin to see a new
trend in our enrollment.  Our proposed screened admissions policy will drive some of that
change," Moffett said.
     The decrease in enrollment is attributable to factors including the university's managed
enrollment policy in nursing and stricter reviews of academic appeals, in preparation for screened
enrollment. 
     Southeastern did experience a Spring increase of 10% in the African-American student
population and an overall increase in all minority enrollment, including Hispanic, Asian and
Native American students.
     "We are working diligently to continue our tradition of caring on this campus.  These
numbers are a reflection of campus-wide recruitment and retention efforts that are now paying
off.  Southeastern continues to be a quality first-choice for students and we are continuing our
efforts to inform more parents and students about the outstanding academic offerings here," Dr.
Moffett said.
     The University is now preparing to go before the Board of Supervisors of the University
of Louisiana system at the end of the month to propose a screened admission's policy for
Southeastern.  
     "This policy will allow the University to continue our efforts to vigorously promote
quality and to attract prepared students who will work diligently toward completion of their
degrees," Moffett said.  

                             -SLU-