University System grows for 7th straight year

Clayton State University has passed the 6,000 mark in enrollment for the first time in its 36-year history.

Enrollment for the fall 2005 semester stands at 6,212, an increase of 4.2 percent over the fall 2004 enrollment of 5,954. This marks the sixth consecutive fall semester that enrollment has increased at Clayton State:
• 1999 – 4,449.
• 2000 – 4,456.
• 2001 – 4,675.
• 2002 – 5,212.
• 2003 – 5,661.
• 2004 – 5,954.
• 2005 – 6,212.

Clayton State’s growth tracks that of the University System of Georgia as a whole, although Clayton State’s growth rate for the current semester is more than triple that of the USG as a whole. The USG fall enrollment report shows a seventh consecutive year of growth in attendance at the state’s public colleges and universities. The report, released today by the Board of Regents, indicates that enrollment in the System grew by almost 3,000 students from fall 2004 to fall 2005 to a total enrollment of 253,552.

The 1.2 percent increase of 2,893 students over fall 2004 follows a 1.5 percent increase from fall 2003 to fall 2004. This marks the second year that System enrollment has grown at a more modest rate, initiating a pattern of stabilization that will help alleviate some of the capacity pressures faced by many System campuses. Since fall 1998, USG enrollment has grown by 53,540 students, an increase of 26.7 percent over this time period.

“While our enrollment growth is beginning to stabilize, we know Georgians will continue to pursue higher education opportunities in record numbers,” said Interim Chancellor Corlis P. Cummings. “The strong budget support we recently received from the Governor and General Assembly will allow us to better serve our students and ensure their access to high-quality academic programs. The bottom line is post-secondary education is a necessity in today’s competitive, global society, and we are pleased that Georgians are heeding that message.”

The full University System of Georgia Fall 2005 Semester Enrollment Report is available at www.usg.edu/sra/students/enroll/.

Clayton State University, located in Morrow, is a state university of the University System of Georgia serving the Metro Atlanta region.

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