Lamar University enrollment closes in on pre-Rita numbers

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By: BETH GALLASPY, The Enterprise

09/26/2007

Updated 09/25/2007 11:50:03 PM CDT

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Hard work on expanding recruiting and new programs helped Lamar University enrollment this fall bounce back almost to pre-Hurricane Rita levels.

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The other three Lamar campuses, struggling to entice students into the classroom instead of a booming work force, have not been as lucky.

"We're really excited that we're back to our pre-hurricane numbers," Lamar University President James Simmons said. "... We just really have had all kinds of new initiatives."

Enrollment as of the 20th class day this semester was at 10,379, down just 2 percent or 216 students from the fall 2005 peak of 10,595 before Hurricane Rita. This fall's enrollment is up 4.8 percent, or 473 students, from the 20th day count of 9,906 in fall 2006.

Simmons credited new distance learning sites in Baytown and Lumberton; expanded online offerings including an online master's program for teachers that has attracted students from across the state; and increased recruiting in Houston, Dallas and internationally.

"So many of our high school graduates in Southeast Texas are going right into the work force, so it was incumbent upon us to go out and recruit heavily ... to continue to bring quality students to Lamar University," Simmons said.

The other three Lamar campuses have not yet recovered from a post-hurricane enrollment hit.

Lamar State College-Orange has a 2,002 student count this fall, nearly level with last fall's 2,011 enrollment, but down 6.6 percent from the 2,143 enrollment of fall 2005.

Lamar State College-Port Arthur has 2,684 students this fall, a drop of 70 students or 2.5 percent since fall 2006 and 10 percent behind the pre-hurricane enrollment of 2,986, which was a fall semester record for the college.

"It's never one thing. It's always a combination of things," said Lamar State College-Port Arthur President Sam Monroe. Those things include Port Arthur's continued post-Rita population drop and an unprecedented demand for labor, Monroe said.

"Many people are choosing to go to work and holding their higher education and training aspirations in abeyance," Monroe said.

The college has responded with more short-term training programs developed in collaboration with industry, but students in many of those programs are not reflected in enrollment counts.

Lamar Institute of Technology has 2,590 students this semester, up 7.5 percent from the fall 2006 count of 2,409 but down 4.4 percent from the fall 2005 count of 2,711.

"We're still trying other avenues to increase enrollment," said LIT spokesman Chris Castillo. The effort has included follow-up calls to students who registered but failed to pay or who failed to re-enroll, he said.

At Lamar University, Simmons said the goal is to keep enrollment numbers up and build on the momentum seen before Hurricane Rita. The university's Cardinal Village dormitories are at 97 percent occupancy this semester and the year started with Brooks-Shivers Hall on standby to serve as an overflow dormitory.

Brooks-Shivers will continue to serve as a swing space during renovations of other buildings on campus and as a dormitory when necessary, Simmons said. Its next role likely will be as a temporary office and rehearsal space in summer 2008 during renovations of the music building, Simmons said.

"I hope next fall we may have to use it for overflow student space," Simmons said.

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