UCCS marks new enrollment record

Student enrollment at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs this fall is the highest in the university’s history with more than 9,300 students enrolled, university officials announced Monday.

Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak made the announcement following the university’s Sept. 9 official census.

Enrollment for fall 2011 increased by 429 students to 9,321, a 4.8 percent increase from fall 2010. This is the largest enrollment at UCCS since its founding in 1965.

“More students are recognizing the importance of a college degree and the value that a degree from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs provides,” Shockley-Zalabak said. “The university offers high-quality teaching, personalized classes and a variety of outstanding programs in a spectacular setting.”

Student credit hours, a measure of the number of students and the number of courses in which they are enrolled, increased from 97,546 last fall to 107,583 this year, a 5.4 percent increase. UCCS continues to have a mix of full- and part-time students.

The UCCS first-time freshman class is its largest ever with 1,352 members, a 196 student or 17 percent increase from last year. While continuing to analyze this year’s enrollment data, officials believe the freshman class is among the strongest in UCCS history based on high school grades and scores on entrance exams. The campus also increased the number of transfer students, many from the state’s community colleges. This fall, 966 students transferred to UCCS, a 45 student or 4.9 percent increase from a year ago.

The ethnic diversity of the UCCS student body also continues to increase. For fall 2011, 2,077 students or 22.3 percent of the campus identified themselves as members of an ethnic minority group. This represents a 215 student or 11.5 percent increase from fall 2010.