Spring semester breaks enrollment record

The numbers are in, and UM has a record for spring semester enrollment. The new high mark is 13,825, which is 469 more than a year ago.

The University also set a spring semester record for full-time equivalents — 12,006.80 — which is 491.98 better than spring semester 2008. (An FTE represents 15 undergraduate or 12 graduate semester credits.)

UM President George Dennison said the changes resulted from several significant developments.

“First, the Student Success Initiative on the Missoula campus, designed to assist students to remain enrolled and persist to graduation, has clearly begun to take effect,” Dennison said. “Second, students have opted to carry somewhat heavier credit loads as a means to graduate sooner, thereby reducing the overall cost of their education.

“Finally, as usual during difficult economic times, students tend to remain enrolled or to enroll in colleges and universities, particularly if they find adequate financial assistance.”

He added that the increased offerings during Wintersession made a difference, with the credits counting during spring semester.

Montana resident FTEs jumped 556.17 between spring semester 2008 and spring 2009. Nonresident FTEs climbed 47.75, and distance-learning FTEs increased by 55.

Nearly half of the spring semester enrollment increase was generated by UM’s College of Technology, which has 227 more students than spring 2008. The main Missoula campus has 242 more students taking classes than a year ago.