Date:
9/19/2006
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
PORTALES—Eastern New Mexico University's 2006 fall enrollment is 4,135, a 2.1 increase over the 2005 fall enrollment of 4,052. Undergraduate enrollment declined slightly, while graduate enrollment was up by 13 percent.
Despite the headcount increase, ENMU generated 2.3 percent fewer semester credit hours. A decrease in undergraduate retention accounted for most of the decline.
Highpoints of the enrollment were an increase in first-time freshmen, and a slight growth in students living on-campus.
ENMU president Steven Gamble characterized fall enrollment as "mixed. We are pleased with the growth in enrollment numbers, especially first-time freshmen, but disappointed in the semester credit hours and in student retention for freshmen. Improving these numbers will be a major focus this academic year."
The 2006 fall semester is the sixth straight fall semester in which ENMU has recorded a growth in enrollment. This fall's enrollment is the highest since 1975 when the headcount was 4,248.