WEST PLAINS, Mo.– A total of 1,928 students began classes Monday morning, Aug. 18, the first day of the 2014 fall semester, at Missouri State University-West Plains, university officials announced.
That is the number of students enrolled as of Sunday evening, Aug. 17, the end of regular registration period for the fall semester, university officials said. Last year, 1,920 students were enrolled for the first day, university officials pointed out.
Monday’s figures included enrollment numbers from Missouri State-West Plains’ extended campus in Mountain Grove and early enrollees in the dual credit/dual enrollment classes being offered this fall at several area high schools.
“In an environment where many Missouri two-year colleges are going down in enrollment, we are pleased that, for the second year in a row, Missouri State University-West Plains is up,” Chancellor Drew Bennett said. “We will wait until the census date, the 20th day of class, to determine our official enrollment, as we have other special groups that will continue to enroll in the coming days.”
Bennett explained the official number is normally higher than the first-day enrollment figure due in large part to the extended registration period for such programs as VESTA (Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance), the Missouri Sheriffs’ Association Training Academy peace officer training course, and some high school dual credit classes.
“For example, by the end of the day Monday, we had an enrollment figure of 1,982 students due in large part to continued registration in these other programs,” he said.
In addition to these students, 122 students are enrolled in the bachelor’s and master’s degree courses offered on site and via interactive television (ITV) by Missouri State University’s Outreach Program on the West Plains campus. This is a slight increase over last fall when 118 students were enrolled on the first day of classes, Outreach Coordinator Deanna Smith said. The number does not include students enrolled in local Outreach programs who are taking online classes only this fall, she added.
For more information about Missouri State-West Plains, its programs and registration deadlines, visit www.wp.missouristate.edu or call 417-255-7955.