Fall enrollment sets record

(Aug. 30, 2001)   —   Fall enrollment at East Carolina University has hit 19,470, an all-time record, officials announced today (Aug. 30).

Dr. Robert Thompson, interim vice chancellor for academic affairs, said the numbers reflect the quality of academic programs and student services on campus as well as rapidly expanding distance-learning offerings.

“ECU is clearly becoming more attractive to students throughout the state and the entire eastern seaboard,” Thompson said. “This year’s totals indicate that we are on track to reach our target enrollment of 27,500 students by the end of the decade.”

This year’s enrollment figure includes graduate, undergraduate and medical students, both on and off-campus. It is up by 720, or 4 percent, from last year’s comparable total of 18,750. Last year was the first time that the UNC system included distance-learning students in its enrollment summaries.

The number of on-campus students this year is 18,186, up from 17,850 a year ago and the second highest total ever.

The totals include 3,188 new freshmen, up from 3,112 a year ago.

Of this year’s students, 16,817 or 86 per cent, are North Carolina residents. The number of undergraduates is 15,490 or 80 percent.

Contact: ECU News Bureau | 252-328-6481