Emporia State graduate-student enrollment hit an all-time high, and both undergraduate and graduate students are enrolling in more credit hours, according to data collected on the 20th day of classes of the fall 2015 semester.
“These results are good news overall for the university and its students,” said Dr. David Cordle, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We’re continuing to move in the right direction.”
At 2,230 students, Emporia State’s Graduate School topped the 2,200 mark for the first time. The number also reflects an increase in degree-seeking graduate students, influenced in part by new programs such as the master’s degree in forensic science, the only graduate-level program in Kansas, which launched this fall.
On the 20th day of the fall 2015 semester, Emporia State reported a total headcount of 6,094. Although down slightly — 20 students — from fall 2014, the number of students shows a nearly 4 percent increase since fall 2012, the last semester that enrollment was under 6,000.
The headcount statistic reflects each individual person enrolled in classes. The full-time equivalent, or FTE, figure, however, converts credit hours into “students.”
To arrive at FTE, all credit hours in which students are enrolled are totaled. For undergraduate hours, the total credit hours are divided by 15 hours, which is the number needed each semester to graduate on time. For graduate students, the total credit hours are divided by nine.
For example, one part-time undergraduate students enrolled in three hours would combine with a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in 12 hours to equal 15 hours or one FTE. For fall 2015, the total FTE at Emporia State is 5,138.9, an increase of 176.2 from fall 2014.
“Our increased FTE number shows us that our students are serious about earning their degrees,” said Cordle. “At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, more are enrolling in enough classes to graduate on time, which places them in their chosen path for life and career sooner.”