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PITTSBURG —
Pittsburg State University’s spring semester enrollment, just as in the fall, is near record numbers, officials said Tuesday.
Jon Bartlow, associate director of admissions, said last Friday’s orientation had brought the biggest crop of January freshmen he has seen.
“We had about 60 students at orientation, and that's the most there has been in the five years I’ve been here,” Bartlow said Tuesday evening. “I think there is definitely a trend that Pittsburg State is growing.”
Bartlow didn’t have a number directly in front of him and couldn’t say what was specifically contributing to that growth. But Bartlow, who teaches freshman experience classes each semester, said he informally polls those classes in an effort to get to know the students and was able to glean some valuable information.
“I have 43 students enrolled in one session, and the other session has 45, and it’s the largest I’ve ever taught by 10 students at least,” Bartlow said. “I had several who transferred in from community colleges, several came from four-year colleges, and just as many who, for whatever reason or another, just put off their first semester.”
The university also has been marketing itself and has been opening its doors to students from other states. It opened the $10 million Crimson Commons apartment complex last year and has expanded the Gorilla Advantage program — similar to the one that allow students from Missouri to pay in-state tuition — to attract students from Arkansas.
Bartlow said the university has been working to improve steadily.
“The administrators have always said we're aiming for controlled growth,” he said. “It’s a matter of keeping that growth at a pace that allows us to keep the experience manageable.”
Bill Ivy, associate vice president of enrollment management and student success, said the Gorilla Advantage program has been successful.
“Our numbers continue to increase, and we’re seeing a great response from students in the northwest Arkansas region,” Ivy said in the release. “It’s likely that at least a portion of the increase is coming from these students, which is great for our campus and our community.”
Pittsburg State University’s spring semester enrollment, just as in the fall, is near record numbers, officials said Tuesday.
Jon Bartlow, associate director of admissions, said last Friday’s orientation had brought the biggest crop of January freshmen he has seen.
“We had about 60 students at orientation, and that's the most there has been in the five years I’ve been here,” Bartlow said Tuesday evening. “I think there is definitely a trend that Pittsburg State is growing.”
Bartlow didn’t have a number directly in front of him and couldn’t say what was specifically contributing to that growth. But Bartlow, who teaches freshman experience classes each semester, said he informally polls those classes in an effort to get to know the students and was able to glean some valuable information.
“I have 43 students enrolled in one session, and the other session has 45, and it’s the largest I’ve ever taught by 10 students at least,” Bartlow said. “I had several who transferred in from community colleges, several came from four-year colleges, and just as many who, for whatever reason or another, just put off their first semester.”
The university also has been marketing itself and has been opening its doors to students from other states. It opened the $10 million Crimson Commons apartment complex last year and has expanded the Gorilla Advantage program — similar to the one that allow students from Missouri to pay in-state tuition — to attract students from Arkansas.
Bartlow said the university has been working to improve steadily.
“The administrators have always said we're aiming for controlled growth,” he said. “It’s a matter of keeping that growth at a pace that allows us to keep the experience manageable.”
Bill Ivy, associate vice president of enrollment management and student success, said the Gorilla Advantage program has been successful.
“Our numbers continue to increase, and we’re seeing a great response from students in the northwest Arkansas region,” Ivy said in the release. “It’s likely that at least a portion of the increase is coming from these students, which is great for our campus and our community.”
