While several Arkansas universities have struggled with recent summer enrollment numbers, Southern Arkansas University experienced increases over last year.
This summer, SAU had its most extensive number of summer on-campus and online class offerings. Enrollment increased overall and actually jumped more than 8-percent for Summer II compared to last year.
“At a time when many campuses are experiencing summer enrollment decreases, it was good to see this increase at SAU,” said SAU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Trey Berry. “I think it is a sign that we have created some innovative and diverse ways of delivering our summer curriculum and the students are responding.”
SAU added 30-percent more online classes to this summer’s schedule offerings in an effort to cater to students who may be traveling or going home during the summer break. Flyers were distributed around campus before the end of the spring semester encouraging students to “go with who you know this summer,” hitting on the fact that SAU’s low 16-1 student-teacher allows more involvement between students and faculty members.
Since the fall of 2004, online course sections have skyrocketed from only four options to 121 in the fall of 2012. Enrollment has similarly risen from 55 students taking online courses in the fall of 2004 to 1,214 enrolled in the fall of 2012. The SAU faculty members are prepared for this boom in online courses and enrollment as SAU’s commitment to quality education includes support for faculty ranging from individualized desk-side coaching sessions to campus-wide technology trainings and “Brown Bag Online Faculty Exchanges.”
Enrolment efforts are now focused on this fall. Registration for fall classes is August 26 and 27 and classes begin on August 28.
