Enrollment at Oklahoma State hits 10-year high

Oklahoma State's enrollment for the fall semester is back above<br>the 20,000 mark for the first time since 1988.<br> <br>"The dormitories are packed, our class sections are full, and<br>I'm

Friday, August 20th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Oklahoma State's enrollment for the fall semester is back above
the 20,000 mark for the first time since 1988.

"The dormitories are packed, our class sections are full, and
I'm getting flooded by e-mail complaints from students trying to
improve their parking situations," said OSU Executive Vice
President Marvin Keener. "But we're delighted to have these kind
of challenges."

Classes began Monday in Stillwater with 20,221 students
enrolled. The figure is 700 higher than last year and well above
the low of 17,784 in 1994. Enrollment at Oklahoma State peaked at
23,053 in 1982.

Keener cited the campus and the emphasis on improving the
learning environment as reasons for the increased enrollment.

Oklahoma State says its records also show the retention rate
from freshman to sophomore has increased for 74 percent to 84
percent this decade. The retention rate from sophomore to junior is
up from 64 percent to 71.1 percent.

The University of Oklahoma also expects its highest enrollment
of the decade when students report next week.

A class of 3,200 freshmen is expected to raise the main campus
enrollment to 21,120, the largest of the 1990s.