University Posts 9.5% Spring Enrollment Increase, 9.9% SCH Gain

Investing in higher education continues to attract students in record numbers this Spring at Texas A&M International University as it reports a 9.5% increase in official student enrollment to 6,090 students and a 9.9% increase in Semester Credit Hours (SCH) to 60,750.

Last Spring’s comparable enrollment was 5,558, and SCH, upon which State funding is based, totaled 55,265.

Dr. Ray Keck, TAMIU president, noted that the increases are especially significant in today’s challenging economic environment.

“We’re in line with the national barometer for higher education…in tough times, people return to Universities to repurpose themselves for a career change, earn an advanced degree or avail themselves of new study opportunities. It truly becomes an investment in themselves,” Dr. Keck said.

He signaled the University’s mushrooming growth comes as it and all state universities and colleges are being asked to trim budgets and operate as leanly as possible with a required five percent budget reduction.

“On the one hand, we’re in an enviable position: record growth that shows that TAMIU is accomplishing its higher education mission. On the other, we do so in a tough and challenging economic time that mandates continued, rigid stewardship of our resources. We’re confident that the State’s leadership will recognize TAMIU’s strengths and accomplishments and continue to champion our University,” Keck explained.

He provided additional information on TAMIU Spring Semester 2010 enrollment: full-time students comprise 53% (3,274) of the Spring combined undergraduate/graduate enrollment, while 46% (2,816) are part-time.

The College of Arts and Sciences has the highest enrollment with 3,055 students (50%). The College of Education follows with 1,521 (25%), A. R. Sanchez Jr. School of Business with 1,122 students (18%) and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences with 392 (6.4%).

The most popular undergraduate majors are early childhood education, business administration and criminal justice. The most popular graduate programs are business administration, educational administration, and school counseling.

The average overall student age is 22 (undergraduate) and 31 (graduate). The youngest student is 14 while the oldest is 66. Females outnumber males 60% (3,678) to 40% (2,412). Average undergraduate class size is 31 and student-faculty ratio is 20 to 1.

Minority enrollment is 90% Hispanic, .80% Black and .67% Asian. Ninety-five percent of TAMIU students are In-State residents, but 3.7% of the University's combined undergraduate and graduate enrollment is international. Twenty-five different countries are represented in the University’s total enrollment this Spring.

Online registration for the University’s Maymester, Summer Sessions and Fall 2010 begins April 5, 2010 via UOnline at tamiu.edu. Maymester classes begin May 17 and end June 3. Summer Session I classes start June 7 and end July 7, 2010. Summer Session II classes begin July 12 and end Aug 8, 2010.

Fall 2010 classes begin Aug. 23 and end Dec. 11, 2010. For registration information, visit the Office of the University Registrar at tamiu.edu/affairs/registrar

For additional information, please contact the Office of the Registrar at 326.2250 or e-mail registrar@tamiu.edu

The Office of the Registrar is relocating to Student Center 230. Current offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library closed Wednesday, Feb. 24 at noon and will reopen March 1 in the Student Center.

Registrar's office hours are Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu