FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For the second year in a row, the University of Arkansas has set an all-time record enrollment, surpassing the 16,000 mark for the first time in the institution's history. The total head count of on-campus and off-campus students for fall 2002 is 16,035 students, an increase of 240 or 1.5 percent over the previous all-time record enrollment of 15,795 set last year.

This year's enrollment also represents an increase in total UA enrollments of 1,295 students or 8.8 percent over the 14,740 students enrolled in fall 1997, when Chancellor John A. White began his tenure.

"This year’s enrollment represents continued progress for the University of Arkansas as we strive to increase the size and diversity of the student body," White said. "It is encouraging that, despite a declining number of seniors graduating from Arkansas schools, the University has still posted a record enrollment. However, our efforts to recruit and retain students must remain our top priority in order to reach our 2010 enrollment goal of 22,500. Through the recommendations of the recruitment task force, which are being implemented this year, we expect annual enrollments to increase at a higher rate."

The fall semester enrollment of 16,035 does not, however, represent the total number of students being served across the state and nation by the University of Arkansas. During the last fiscal year (2001-02), UA faculty delivered more than 6,000 hours of instruction through the Division of Continuing Education. This course load would translate into more than 200 full-time-equivalent students.

"Although these enrollments are not currently included in official enrollment records, it is important to acknowledge this faculty effort on behalf of both traditional and non-traditional students," White said.

Because of the increase occurring nationally in non-traditional delivery of college courses and the approaches used to account for such enrollments at other national universities, the University of Arkansas is considering incorporating Continuing Education enrollments in future annual reports of total enrollment.

In the critical area of diversity, the University posted significant increases in most categories, particularly that of new freshman African American and Latino or Hispanic students. New freshman African American enrollment increased to 154, up 22.2 percent from 126 last fall. New Latino or Hispanic enrollment increased to 38, up 15.2 percent from 33 last fall.

"We are making significant progress toward increasing the diversity of the University of Arkansas as these new enrollment numbers show," said Arlene Cash, dean of enrollment services.

"The initiatives of our diversity task force will aim at increasing representation of people of color within our faculty, staff and student populations. As these initiatives are implemented, we expect to make faster progress toward this goal."

• Total African-American enrollment increased to 1,022, up 4.3 percent from 980 last fall
• Total Latino or Hispanic enrollment increased to 258, up 11.2 percent from 232 last fall.
• Total American-Indian enrollment increased to 328, up 2.5 percent from 320 last fall.
• Total Asian or Pacific Islander enrollment increased to 420, up 3.4 percent from 406 last fall.
• International enrollment decreased to 892, down 3.4 percent from 923 last fall, but still significantly higher than the 822 students enrolled in the fall of 2000.

Continued progress was also posted in the area of graduate enrollment, also a primary goal for the University. Total degree-seeking graduate enrollment is 2,520, up 5.3 percent up from 2,394 last fall. In addition, there are 176 non-degree seeking graduate students enrolled, up 5.4 percent from 167 last fall. Of this, 1,737 are enrolled in the masters program, 6 in the law masters, 23 in the specialist, and 754 are in the doctoral program.  In addition, law professional enrollment is up 9.6 percent from 374 last fall, to 410 this fall.

Total undergraduate degree-seeking enrollment is 12,570, up 0.6 percent from 12,501 last fall. In addition, there are 359 non-degree seeking undergraduate students, up 0.3 percent from last fall.

Although new freshman enrollment is 2,348, down 2.5 percent from 2,409 last fall, the quality of the incoming students continues to improve. The average high school grade-point-average of entering freshmen is 3.57 up from 3.54 last fall. The average ACT of new freshmen is 25.0 up from 24.8 last fall.

Additionally, overall freshman retention increased to 82.2 percent over 81.7 percent last fall.

"We saw a drop in our overall freshman enrollment this year and an increase in sophomore enrollment, which is good news because it indicates these students are having successful freshman experiences and are moving forward," Cash said. "The impressive gains we continue to see in the quality of the student body also account for more successful students."

• Total freshman enrollment, including those students returning as freshmen, decreased 5.0 percent from 3,518 to 3,343.
• Total sophomore enrollment increased 7.4 percent from 2,678 to 2,876.
• Total junior enrollment decreased 7.1 percent from 2,832 to 2,631.
• Total senior enrollment increased 7 percent from 3,473 to 3,717
• Students enrolling from Arkansas schools is up 0.6 percent from 13,230 to13,307.
• Students enrolling from out-of-state is up 11.8 percent from 1,642 to 1,836.