WEST PLAINS, Mo. – A total of 1,744 students are enrolled this fall at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP), according to official enrollment statistics for the 2022 fall semester released today.
In 2021, 1,953 students were enrolled, university officials said.
“Overall student numbers this fall show different aspects of our enrollment picture this year, some good, some really good and some disappointing,” MSU-WP Chancellor Dennis Lancaster said. “Although total enrollment is down, that is almost entirely due to a large drop in new students in the dual credit courses we provide at area high schools and in many parts of southern Missouri.
“Even so, there is a lot to celebrate and in areas critical to our strategic plans in recruitment and retention going forward,” Lancaster added.
- Returning student enrollment is up 2%, going from 870 students last fall to 890 students this fall;
- First-time full-time freshmen enrollment is up 1.5%.
- Continuing high school dual credit students jumped 12.3%, going from 292 students last fall to 328 students this semester.
“It is encouraging to see our returning student enrollment increase by 2%,” said Dr. Michael Orf, vice chancellor of academic affairs. “This past year, we were able to hire two student success coaches through a grant. They did a lot of work this summer reaching out to students and asking them how they could help them register for the fall semester.
“In addition, our advising office and faculty advisers did a lot of work this past spring encouraging students to register for classes before leaving for the summer. As you can see by our increase, their efforts paid off,” Orf added.
“As we’ve said throughout last year, we have to get our full-time student numbers up,” Lancaster added. “There are two parts to that effort. One is retention, and hats off to our faculty and staff who have worked diligently to keep our students in their degree programs. The second part is recruitment of new degree-seeking students.
“Our question has been, ‘What will attract students to the West Plains campus?’ We’ve answered that question by adding new programs like women’s softball, esports and, to some extent, our pilot program for students with autism, all of which contributed to an increase – slight as it is, but nevertheless an increase – in new students and in the credit hours they generate,” Lancaster explained.
MSU-WP’s final overall enrollment figure includes students taking classes at the West Plains and Mountain Grove campuses, as well as online, through high school dual credit/dual enrollment programs, and through the Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA) of which MSU-WP is a member.
In addition to the students enrolled in MSU-WP courses this fall, 65 students are enrolled in bachelor’s and master’s level courses offered locally through the Missouri State University Outreach office.
