For the past four straight years, Mississippi State University has experienced significant enrollment growth.
According to the Institutions of Higher Learning about 17,039 students were enrolled in the fall semester of 2007, which increased overall enrollment by 5.1 percent from fall 2006.
Associate vice president for student affairs Lisa Harris said it would be premature for comparisons to be made to previous years concerning enrollment growth.
“Right now all the numbers are fluid, but there are some indicators that there will be an increase in enrollment,” she said. “The 10th class day is the IHL’s mandated census date and it will release the total enrollment numbers for each institution when they become available.”
Harris said increasing enrollment was not done haphazardly, but was calculated and strategic due to the planned efforts of Bill Kilber, vice president for student affairs.
“Our task is to grow the university and enhance the unique culture that exists here,” she said. “You can’t have strategic enrollment growth without thoughtful, judicious planning.”
Associate provost for academic affairs Jerome Gilbert said planned growth can be beneficial to the university.
“If we continue to grow, there will be additional faculty, facilities [and] funding from the IHL and research dollars for our faculty,” he said. “We need to plan as though we are going to continue to grow five to 10 years from now.”
As enrollment increases, more students will need a place to live.
Director of housing and residence life Ann Bailey said there has been a steady stream of people coming to the Housing offices in Herbert Hall, wanting housing for the fall semester.
“We have historically housed 20 to 25 percent of the total enrollment,” she said. “I think that once we clear out the no-shows and the cancellations, we will back-fill people, but it will be a day-by-day process.”
Bailey said recent housing traffic has been comprised of students who neglected the Student Housing Application Renewal Process and late applicants.
“I don’t have a lot of flexibility where location is concerned, but we will do what we can to make sure people have a place to sleep,” she said.
Student Association President Braxton Coombs said increased enrollment would bring increased activity on campus.
“Mississippi State is moving forward, and it can easily be seen by the large increase of enrollment,” he said. “It’s great that students still want to go here in spite of the economy.”
Harris said the task is to grow the university and enhance the unique culture that exists here.
“We want to grow, but we also want to stay the special place we are,” she said. “Mississippi State is one of the best kept secrets in the SEC, and we are trying to get that secret out and share what is special about State with others.”