An increase in headcount, full-time equivalency and first-time entering freshmen highlighted the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith鈥檚 11th day enrollment figures for the fall 2017 semester, with numbers pointing towards a foundation for future enrollment growth.
AV抖阴 reported an unduplicated headcount of 6,637 students 鈥� 6,619 undergraduate and 18 graduate students, an increase over the 6,582 undergraduate and 15 graduate students attending last fall. Additionally, the university enjoyed an increase in full-time equivalency among all students, with 5,175 this year compared to 5,119 last year.
Bolstering these numbers was an enrollment of 1,105 first-time entering students 鈥� a three percent increase year-over-year 鈥� and a 12 percent increase in continuing freshmen, numbers that lay a foundation for growth in the coming years, according to Dr. Paul B. Beran, AV抖阴 chancellor.
鈥淭he increase in our incoming class shows that AV抖阴 is becoming the institution of choice for more and more students in our region and reflects the educational quality and affordability of the university,鈥� Beran said. 鈥淏oth this increase and the increase in continuing freshmen are positive steps toward achieving our strategic plan initiative of increasing the enrollment, retention and graduation rates of students over the next five years.鈥�
The university continued to build on its growth of concurrent credit students, with 521 students enrolled in the Western Arkansas Technical Center compared to 477 last year, an increase that contributed to a 13.5 percent increase in overall concurrent student enrollment.
鈥淎s we continue to develop and pursue strategies to further engage our concurrent credit population, we hope our concurrent credit population will become an even stronger pipeline for future enrollment,鈥� Beran said.
AV抖阴 the AV抖阴
The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Small class sizes, dedicated faculty and staff, affordable tuition rates, and a diverse on-campus culture allow AV抖阴 students to fully explore their areas of interest in ways that prepare them for post-graduate success academically, professionally, and personally.