September 11, 2001

WKU Sets Record Enrollment At 16,492, Up 6.3 Percent

Bowling Green, Ky. - If it seems a little more crowded on the Hill at Western Kentucky University, there's a good reason: a record number of students have registered for classes this fall.

Preliminary figures show a headcount of 16,492 students, according to Registrar Freida Eggleton. That figures tops the previous record of 15,767 set in the fall of 1991 and is almost 1,000 students (6.3 percent) more than last year's enrollment of 15,516.

"I think more students and parents are realizing the value of a Western education," said WKU President Gary Ransdell. "We offer a quality faculty teaching relevant programs in an environment that is conducive to learning-a quality educational experience for an affordable price. The word is getting out and Western is increasingly becoming the university of choice."

Eggleton said enrollment is up in almost every category with significant increases at the WKU-Glasgow campus (11 percent), transfer students (9.9 percent), beginning freshmen (7.6 percent), returning undergraduate students (7.3 percent) and graduate students (6.7 percent).

Luther Hughes, associate vice president for Enrollment Management, said he was also excited about the high academic and service record of the Western student body.

"We have a wonderful group of students who have outstanding academic records and who also bring an incredible record of leadership achievements," Dr. Hughes said. "At Western, we are seeking both outstanding academic students and excellent student leaders. This year's incoming students have both of those qualities."

Dr. Hughes also said the University's strategic plan, improvements to residence halls and campus beautification projects and being a part of the progressive community of Bowling Green help to "create an environment that is impressive to parents and prospective students when they visit our campus. Coupling that with an outstanding academic program, it is an exciting time to be encouraging students to be a part of Western Kentucky University, the most rapidly growing university in Kentucky."

Record growth also comes with challenges, including on-campus housing and finding enough teachers and classroom space. So far, the University has met the needs, Dr. Ransdell said. "Our residence halls are full, but we've made space for everyone who has requested a room," he said.

Provost Barbara Burch said the University has hired addition faculty and opened more classes to accommodate the students.

Dr. Ransdell said Western will have to have additional state support to keep up with the needs of the growing student population.

"The legislature and the Council on Postsecondary Education have called on the state's universities to grow by increasing recruitment and retention," he said. "We've done that. Now we will be calling on the state and CPE to provide additional base funding to help us cope with the challenges we face because of our growth."

Historical fall enrollment
1990 15,240 1996 14,613
1991 15,767 1997 14,543
1992 15,750 1998 14,882
1993 15,335 1999 15,123
1994 14,765 2000 15,516
1995 14,721 2001 16,492

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