KEARNEY, Neb. — The momentum of the record-breaking fall enrollment increase at the University of Nebraska at Kearney continued into the spring semester.
UNK officials announced Monday that spring enrollment was at 6,651, a 5.2 percent increase from spring semester enrollment in 2011 and the most since 1997.
"The numbers reflect a great underlying story of quality, service and plain hard work," Chancellor Doug Kristensen said in a press release. "The University of Nebraska has a very strong arm in this part of the state, and we are striving every day to enhance our appeal and impact. Enrollment is a high and continuing campus and university priority."
Senior Vice Chancellor Charlie Bicak called attention to several aspects of the spring enrollment returns.
"This semester, UNK gained 121 transfer students, which is 13 more than this time last year. Due to winter commencement and other factors impacting enrollment patterns, student numbers for spring semester are usually smaller than fall numbers at UNK — and at almost all universities in the nation."
Also, part of the increase reflects growth in enrollment in eCampus offerings. The biggest growth in eCampus numbers includes undergraduate students who take face-to-face classes on campus along with online classes. Currently, 21 percent of all UNK undergraduates now enroll in both types.
Additionally, while headcount enrollment is important, student credit hour production, up by 5.7 percent from last spring, is important to tuition income. All four UNK academic colleges showed gains in credit hours.
Total international students increased from 422 in the fall to 493 this spring, a 16.8 percent jump; 136 of these were new students. Last spring, there were 100 new international students, including undergraduate and graduate students.
UNK's Admissions Office said preliminary indications are good for fall 2012 enrollment. Both freshman and transfer applications were running at high levels.
Summer orientation and registration for new freshmen begins May 14 and continues through the end of June. Transfer Days for students who wish to transfer to UNK from another university take place one day a month in April, May, June and July.
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