Photo by Don Shrubshell

By Janese Heavin, Columbia Tribune, Aug. 24, 2009

Meet Casandra Petty. The University of Missouri senior might be your doctor some day.  “I like to help people; I know that’s kinda cliché,” Petty said. “I wouldn’t even care if I got paid for it.”  Before she can go to medical school to fulfill her career goal, though, she’ll have to finish earning her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. And to do that, she’ll have pass the organic chemistry, rural sociology and biochemistry courses on her academic plate this semester.  “It’s tough,” she said.

The next generation of doctors, entrepreneurs and other career men and women began preparing for their futures this morning as MU’s fall semester officially got under way. And from the looks of a busy pedestrian campus just before 8 a.m., tomorrow’s leaders were ready to hit the books.  “Things are great,” MU spokeswoman Mary Jo Banken said. “Everyone is so enthusiastic.”

The university is seeing record enrollment numbers this fall. First-day enrollment is 30,831, up 3.6 percent from last year. That includes 23,659 undergraduate students, an increase of 3.7 percent from last year, and 6,018 graduate students, up 3.6 percent from 2008. Freshman enrollment is the second-highest in MU’s history at 5,620, shy 192 students from last year.

The university is touting a more diverse population this year, with a 14.7 percent increase in the number of black freshmen and a 16 percent increase in Hispanic freshmen.  MU freshmen are smart, too, judging from college preparatory test scores. The mean ACT score among freshmen is 25.6. That’s the highest it’s been in eight years, and it’s well above the state average of 21.6.

“Not only is our enrollment increasing, but the quality and diversity of our students is increasing as well,” Ann Korschgen, vice provost for enrollment management, said in a statement. “This demonstrates to us that Mizzou continues to be the top choice for scholars throughout the state.”

Other area colleges also are seeing increased enrollment, although all numbers are preliminary.  Columbia College’s local campus saw a 6 percent increase. About 1,200 students were expected to show up for the first day of classes today, up from 1,169 last fall. Total enrollment — which includes 34 extended campuses and online students — is hovering at about 15,000 students, up from 13,500 last year, spokesman Neal Fandek said.

A total of 769 undergraduate students — including 298 freshmen — are expected to start classes at Stephens College on Wednesday, spokeswoman Sara Fernandez Cendon said. The freshman class is up about 20 students, and total enrollment is the highest it has been in recent history, she said. Although administrators were still crunching the numbers this morning, Cendon said they were expecting to see a spike in graduate student enrollment.

MU’s freshman class got its official welcome during the annual Tiger Walk last night.  The nearly 15-year-old tradition calls for new students to run through the Columns at Francis Quadrangle to symbolize the start of their college careers.  “The feel of the crowd last night at Tiger Walk was electric,” Banken said. “We are all so glad the students are back and are choosing MU. … I think I speak for everything that is involved with our students in saying that we appreciate their confidence in us.”