For the fifth year in a row, our enrollment has increased, reaching another all-time high.

This fall, enrollment stands at 9,313, up about 1 percent from last fall's 9,217, according to the final census. The total includes 7,255 undergraduates and 2,058 graduate students.

Total enrollment grew about 1 percent, while graduate enrollment grew more than 3 percent. The Tennessee Board of Regents' preliminary census shows TBR schools averaged 1.1 percent enrollment growth overall.

"We are quite pleased with the enrollment increase and the increase in both undergraduate and graduate international students," says Rebecca Tolbert, associate vice president for Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management.

Some of our resident students got a little professional help this fall with their rooms during Residential Life's Great Move-In Day Aug. 25.

Francis Otuonye, associate vice president for Research and Graduate Studies, points out that total graduate enrollment increased by approximately 3.3 percent and enrollment of international graduate students increased by 3.2 percent.

"We are elated by the trends in graduate enrollment," he says.

This fall's entering freshman class of 1,424 is the second largest freshman class of the past decade, and the combined number of new freshmen and new transfer students (2,065) is the second largest group of new undergraduate students in the past decade.

Enrollment exclusively in Extended Education courses has increased notably at both the undergraduate and graduate levels during the past five years. Extended Education includes web courses, Regents Online Degree Program courses, courses at off-campus sites, the 2+2 Program, and the Distance MBA Program.

More and more parents accompany their first-time freshmen to campus these days.

"By reaching out to students with offerings at convenient times and locations, including the 'anytime, anyplace' virtual world of distance learning, enrollment in Extended Education courses has experienced significant growth," says Susan Elkins, dean of Interdisciplinary Studies and Extended Education.

"This growth has resulted primarily from programs including the College of Education 2+2 Elementary Education degree offered on community college campuses, graduate education programs, and special programs offered in conjunction with our K-12 partners throughout the region," she adds. "Along with online programs, we give those who are 'struggling to juggle' their busy schedules a chance to earn a degree and fulfill their dreams."

More undergraduates, 1,587, chose the College of Arts and Sciences than any other major, followed respectively by the College of Education (1,433), College of Engineering (1,377), and College of Business Administration (1,305).