(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – Based on preliminary data released this week, the University of Central Missouri is poised to set an enrollment record for the second consecutive year.

Although exact data for the fall 2012 semester will not be available until the Sept. 18 census date,
Rick Sluder, vice provost for enrollment management, said data available  Aug. 21, the first day of classes for the semester, indicate 11,669 students have enrolled. This exceeds the record enrollment of 11,637 students recorded during the 2011 fall census date. Based on university history, Sluder expects enrollment will continue to climb throughout the next couple of weeks.

“Our goal is to increase enrollment productivity by 3.4 percent, and I believe we are well on our way to accomplishing that goal,” he said.

He noted that the last date for students to add or drop classes is Aug. 28. Census data will include students who are taking off-schedule and dual-credit courses. More detailed numbers related to other key enrollment categories also will be available at that time.

Contributing to the positive preliminary numbers are 1,828 new freshmen students, an increase of 6.5 percent over enrollment for the same day in 2011. Other positive numbers include 1,009 undergraduate transfer students, a
5.1 percent increase over last year, and 2,119 graduate students, up 3.5 percent.

As far as reasons for the increase, Sluder noted, “UCM continues to make positive strides in all areas, and is a place of choice. We have excellent programs, caring and talented faculty, supportive staff, and an engaged Warrensburg community. We have also enjoyed a very focused effort on student success, which is contributing to a quality student body.”