UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS ANNOUNCES ENROLLMENT FOR 2004 SPRING SEMESTER

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Enrollment for the spring semester is up at the University of Arkansas. Total enrollment for the 2004 spring semester is 15,527, a 3.0 percent increase from 15,068 in spring of 2003.

The university retained 2,125 of its first-time, full-time, degree-seeking freshmen from its fall 2003 class of 2,284 students. The 93.04 percent mid-year retention rate is a slight improvement from the mid-year retention rate of 92.91 percent in 2002-03.

"One of our stated goals is to reach a mid-year retention rate of 96 percent," Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Bob Smith said. "While the percentage of change is small, it is indicative of improvement and I find it encouraging to see those numbers continue to climb."

The university saw growth among Latino/Hispanic students. Latino/Hispanic enrollment was up 12.7 percent from 236 students in spring of 2003 to 266 students this semester. Asian/Pacific Islander enrollment also grew 1.8 percent from 400 last spring to 407 this semester.

African-American student enrollment fell from 969 in spring 2003 to 936 this semester, a decrease of 3.4 percent. American Indian/Alaskan Native student numbers slipped 0.7 percent from 290 in spring 2003 to 288 this semester.

"During the past year, we have been targeting students in Hispanic communities, and I am happy to see the significant rise in enrollment," Director of Admissions Dawn Medley said. "We will now focus on other underrepresented minorities through various outreach programs, and I am optimistic those enrollment numbers will improve as well."

"We remain committed to creating a culturally diverse campus," Smith said. "Programs such as the Silas Hunt Scholarship will encourage minority students to consider the U of A more seriously when making their college decisions"

Established in fall of 2003, the Silas Hunt Distinguished Scholarship is intended to help further diversify the University of Arkansas student body and will make up to 85 scholarships available to entering freshmen. The first Silas Hunt scholars are expected to arrive at the university during the 2004 fall semester.