Lamar sets new enrollment record!

[AggiesAreWe]

Despite Ike, LU Sets Enrollment Record

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October 8, 2008 - 4:27PM

posted by: Scott Lawrence

News Release from Lamar University:

Lamar University's fall 2008 headcount is 13,469 students, up 31.9 percent from fall 2007, when the university's headcount was just slightly below the pre-Hurricane Rita levels set in the fall of 2005. 

"This headcount enrollment is the largest in Lamar's 85-year history and our semester credit hours are the largest since the fall of 1989," said Kevin Smith, senior associate provost. 

The official count, taken Wednesday, on the 20th day of classes, is all the more remarkable given the disruption to the region caused by Hurricane Ike that struck the region on Sept. 13. The university was closed for 10 days during which power was restored and repairs were made to many campus buildings. Classes resumed Sept. 25.   

Approximately 300 students did not return to classes after Hurricane Ike devastated the region, Smith said. University officials have worked with students to enable as many as possible to resume classes this fall. 

Lamar's total semester credit hours are 130,137, an increase of 14.1 percent from the previous fall.  Most of the increase is due to enrollment in the LU master's degree program offered in partnership with Higher Education Holdings of Dallas, Smith said.  The university's innovative partnership with HEH has made the university the largest educator of teachers in Texas, Smith said.  More than 3,200 certified teachers from more than 200 school districts across the state are enrolled in the program that began one year ago.

Together, Lamar and HEH are offering LU's master's degree in educational leadership with the same high quality of instruction at less than half the cost of traditional programs. 

"Increases were also observed in the colleges of engineering, up 10.2 percent, and fine arts and communication, which is up 4.7 percent," Smith said.  "We are very pleased. These increases are the result of a lot of hard work by faculty and staff," Smith said.   

[TexasTerror]

With "more than 3,200 certified teachers from more than 200 school districts across the state are enrolled in the program that began one year ago", are we really looking at 10,250 or so students actually on campus? I think LU's count is a bit misleading...though it does give LU something to stick it's chest out about, which I can understand, considering this program is a big boom for them.

Are these 3,200 contributing to the athletic fees? Don't think anyone gave me an answer. Doubt they are, so the enrollment increase is still not helping the bottom line of the AD...

[AggiesAreWe]

With "more than 3,200 certified teachers from more than 200 school districts across the state are enrolled in the program that began one year ago", are we really looking at 10,250 or so students actually on campus? I think LU's count is a bit misleading...though it does give LU something to stick it's chest out about, which I can understand, considering this program is a big boom for them.

Are these 3,200 contributing to the athletic fees? Don't think anyone gave me an answer. Doubt they are, so the enrollment increase is still not helping the bottom line of the AD...

Always looking to burst the Lamar bubble, aren't we TT?

Talk about being a troll. :

[TexasTerror]

Always looking to burst the Lamar bubble, aren't we TT?

I'm just speaking the truth, are I not? That not allowed on this board? Sure, I can be opinionated and I will be, but the fact lies in the release if you read between the lines...figure an Aggie can do that.

[Guest abovetherim]

By your remarks TT, I take it SHSU has no on-line classes??? ??? ??? I wonder how many students actually walk the campus in Huntsville?

[AggiesAreWe]

Always looking to burst the Lamar bubble, aren't we TT?

I'm just speaking the truth, are I not? That not allowed on this board? Sure, I can be opinionated and I will be, but the fact lies in the release if you read between the lines...figure an Aggie can do that.

I did not post this story to imply that Lamar had that many students on campus. I saw where the 3,200 made most of the difference, but it still doesn't deny the fact that this is Lamar's largest enrollment ever. There was no hidden agenda with this post, only giving out some info, which is truthful. Nowhere in that article did it state or imply that Lamar had that many students on campus.

On the other hand, you seem to always want to point out any misgivings on Lamar's part. You say you only speak the truth yet it's always the case of you making sure that Lamar stays this notch below your precious Sam. It seems that you think this site needs you to do this particular job, by doing your best to keep Lamar down. It's getting quite old. I don't think I have ever read any post by you that supported anything positive towards Lamar. You seem to always redirect to a comparison to Sam when the thread may not have anything to do with SHSU.

I don't have a problem with you posting the "truth". What I do have a problem with is you trying to spin anything positive about Lamar into a negative.

[Guest coachacola]

I doubt the athletic department needs any money from those 3200 teachers in the HEI program.  Probably as long as on-campus enrollment stays above 10K then they'll be making enough money from the new fee to help support the football program.

I think the 10.2% increase in the college of engineering is really significant.  Those graduates are the ones that will get the high paying jobs in the future and will be able to give back to Lamar, like Phil Drayer just did with his $5 million gift.

[TexasTerror]

By your remarks TT, I take it SHSU has no on-line classes??? ??? ??? I wonder how many students actually walk the campus in Huntsville?

SHSU has online classes and correspondence classes. Heck, we even have satellite centers (we may be seeing SHSU-The Woodlands in a few years, the Chancellor is very well aware of our satellite facility in that neck of the woods). However, we do not have the major percentage that Lamar does...

On the other hand, you seem to always want to point out any misgivings on Lamar's part. You say you only speak the truth yet it's always the case of you making sure that Lamar stays this notch below your precious Sam. It seems that you think this site needs you to do this particular job, by doing your best to keep Lamar down. It's getting quite old. I don't think I have ever read any post by you that supported anything positive towards Lamar. You seem to always redirect to a comparison to Sam when the thread may not have anything to do with SHSU.

Funny -- no mention of SHSU until you and ABR3 did so. I'm not trying to place SHSU above Lamar or vice-versa. Did not even bring SHSU into the argument at all until it was brought about by you guys...

I don't have a problem with you posting the "truth". What I do have a problem with is you trying to spin anything positive about Lamar into a negative.

If you read my response, I did say the program was a "big boom" for you er Lamar (keep forgetting your an Aggie). I'm very well aware of the program and it's a great thing for the school...