There are more undergraduate students enrolled at Southern Arkansas University this fall than in its 110-year history. Undergraduate enrollment rose to an all-time high of 3,584.
Retention rates are an essential factor in enrollment with the increased focus provided through the work of our Retention and Completion Task Force. SAU heightened its retention efforts by adding mental health counselors, career counseling, additional freshman advisors, and advisors in each college that work to ensure students are on track for graduation. SAU expanded its early alert efforts and probation and recovery program with extensive interventions to help students stay on track and revised its scholarship retention policy allowing more opportunity for students to retain their scholarships throughout their college career increasing the likelihood they will graduate. This fall semester, the University reached the highest freshman retention rate it has achieved in over 20 years. SAU also has the largest senior class than ever before with an 11% increase.
Total enrollment for the University is also up to 4,472. Dr. Trey Berry, SAU’s president, is elated about enrollment this fall. “Entering my fifth year as president at SAU, I am delighted to see an overall enrollment growth of more than 600 students since fall 2015. During this same time in a challenging recruitment climate, we’ve continued to grow by 12.9% in undergraduate enrollment. Every year we are ‘up,’ we celebrate. This year marks some historic enrollment measures, all of which are only possible through the incredible service of our entire campus community and the critical support found within Magnolia and throughout the State of Arkansas. As we often say, ‘it takes all of us, all of the time’ to make SAU the best it can be,” said Dr. Berry.
Along with continued enrollment records, the number of students living in on-campus housing also reached the most ever at 1,993. Since 2015, SAU has added five new residence halls and purchased an apartment complex. The most recent addition, Arkansas Hall, which opened this year, holds an additional 127 residents and is near capacity. Arkansas Hall is home to the Leadership College living and learning community for freshmen.
Southern Arkansas University continues to offer new and innovative programming and educational opportunities for its students.
The list of opportunities available outside of the classroom at SAU is as broad and diverse as the list of degree programs.
