Valdosta State University reports fall enrollment numbers

Valdosta State University reached a student enrollment of 10,503 for the fall 2005 semester, according to numbers recently released by the University System of Georgia (USG). Enrollment numbers rose one percent over the last year, and the university reports interesting figures in other aspects of its student profile that help the regional university maintain its academic appeal to students near and far.

Nearly 40 percent of VSU's overall student body is from southwest Georgia, however, the university's southern charm is drawing increasing numbers from Metro Atlanta. In fact, 41 percent of first-time freshmen this year are from the Metro Atlanta area and quite comparable to the 33 percent who come from within VSU's 41-county region.

Edtwon Myree, a senior in Mass Media and originally from East Point, outside of Atlanta, said he was drawn to the student life at VSU. "I was looking for the whole college experience, campus life, dorm life, and all aspects of campus culture," said Myree.

VSU drew six percent of its student population this year from out of state, representing a total of 43 states and one U.S. territory. The international programs have also attracted a growing number, this year 249 students representing over 60 countries, which is up nearly 12 percent over last year.

Minorities make up 26.2 percent of VSU enrollment numbers. Enrollments among African-Americans rose one percent over last year to 21 percent, a trend VSU hopes to see continue. With a recent $15,000 grant from the Board of Regents of the USG to implement the HEROES (Helping Everyone Reach Optimum Educational Success) Institute, VSU seeks to help increase the recruitment, retention and graduation of African-American males as part of the USG African-American Male Initiative.

VSU's graduate school also witnessed a nearly two-percent increase. With the addition of two new programs, the Master in Music Performance and the Master in Biology, graduate students make up over 13 percent of total university enrollment.

"Since 2000, enrollments have grown approximately 20 percent," said Walter Peacock, director of VSU's Admissions and Enrollment Management. "We are real excited about the growth at VSU, and we think it is a testimony to the good people and good things happening here."