Enrollment at Augusta State University has unofficially set a record, one that comes as a mixed blessing.
The university's preliminary fall enrollment is 6,701, topping the previous record of 6,588 set last fall, said Katherine Sweeney, registrar and director of admissions. It's too early to say where the increase came from and whether it results from incoming students or higher retention.
Regardless, the enrollment increase comes as Gov. Sonny Perdue withholds 6 percent of the state's funding for higher education and the increase pushes Augusta State closer to capacity at its Walton Way campus.
The hope is that the cuts aren't permanent and that the economy will turn around, said William Dodd, ASU's associate vice president for academic affairs.
"We don't operate on a huge budget anyway," Dr. Dodd said. "It hurts us, but I don't think we're in dire straights."
Augusta State is relying more heavily on part-time faculty members as a result, he said, with nearly 25 percent of professors working a part-time schedule.
"We are very fortunate to have a very good cadre of part-time folks," Dr. Dodd said, but he added that part-time faculty members tend to spend less time on campus and are unable to dedicate as much time to students.
One way to get more funding is to enroll more students, but even that proves problematic.
"Even if you're growing, you're always catching up," Dr. Dodd said. "It's just the nature of the state beast."
The university's budget is based on enrollment two years ago because of the time it takes to establish a budget, he said.
Augusta State is working to increase enrollment, branching out in its recruiting efforts, Dr. Dodd said, but the university is being careful about how fast it grows.
If this week's enrollment figure holds true, ASU's Walton Way campus will be 500 students from capacity, yet it will be at least four years before a new academic building can be built at its Wrightsboro Road campus.
Enrollment won't be official until mid-October when it is reported to the University System of Georgia, Mrs. Sweeney said.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
GOING UP
Enrollment is going up in other University System of Georgia institutions as well. Here is how Augusta State compares with some similar universities:
Augusta State University..........6,588(FALL 2007).....6,701(FALL 2008*)
Clayton State University..........6,043(FALL 2007).....6,049(FALL 2008*)
Columbus State University..........7,593(FALL 2007).....8,032(FALL 2008*)
Savannah State University..........3,169(FALL 2007).....3,443(FALL 2008*)
Southern Polytechnic State University..........4,460(FALL 2007).....4,830(FALL 2008*)
*The fall 2008 enrollments are unofficial and could change.
Sources: The University System of Georgia and universities
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