Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Enrollment in the first summer session at Stephen F. Austin State University grew slightly from 2007, marking the first increase in summer enrollment at the university since 2003.

SFA’s Summer I enrollment reached 4,494, a 1.2-percent increase from the same semester in 2007 when 4,441 students attended classes. The 2008 figure includes 892 students who took advantage of the new May-mester, a condensed semester allowing students to earn up to four hours of credit during 12 days in May.

“We are very excited about an increase in summer enrollment, especially considering the high gas prices and the large number of students who have to work during the summer,” said Monique Cossich, executive director of enrollment management at SFA. “All indications are that May-mester was a great alternative for many of our students.”

In addition to the increase in the number of students, there was a 3.4 percent increase in the number of credit hours in which students enrolled.

“Our summer credit hour count was up from 21,151 in 2007 to 21,861 in 2008,” said Dr. Mary Nelle Brunson, associate vice president for academic affairs. “That means we not only enrolled more students, but those students registered in more courses, or in courses that count for more credit hours.”

Most college courses meet for three hours each week, and students earn three “credit hours” for successfully completing the class. Other courses – especially science or language classes – have a laboratory time that meets in addition to the classroom time, and students may earn four credit hours for those classes.

SFA officials also unveiled expanded online course offerings and a four-day academic week for the 2008 summer terms as part of a concerted effort to boost summer enrollment at the university.

“We are pleased that student response to May-mester and our other new summer offerings has been positive,” Brunson said. “The SFA community is working together to promote academic excellence and personalized opportunities to help our students reach their academic goals.”