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Frostburg State University Celebrates Largest Undergraduate Class in Its History
Release Date: 09/22/2009

Frostburg State University is welcoming the largest undergraduate class in its history, 4,755 students, thanks largely to a strong transfer class from community colleges, increased international enrollment and more students who are staying to complete their degrees at FSU. This enrollment success is reflecting increased confidence in the institution, the result of an ongoing University strategy to ensure stable, consistent enrollment growth.

Undergraduate enrollment, which has been increasing steadily in recent years, is 3.8 percent higher than last year and up nearly 10 percent since 2006, when FSU’s enrollment had dipped to its lowest point in 17 years. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 5,385, up 170 students from last year.

“I am very pleased that our total enrollment has increased by close to 10 percent since 2006. This growth shows that an institutional approach to enrollment management and to targeted marketing and public relations really can increase enrollment at Frostburg State University,” said FSU President Jonathan Gibralter. “FSU offers an incredibly rich and vibrant learning environment for students, and the word is getting out. Our student population is representative of the entire state, and we will continue to grow, flourish and be an incredibly rich asset to the University System of Maryland and to the State of Maryland.”

A demonstration of the confidence students have in FSU is that 3,170 undergraduates are “continuing students,” meaning they returned to FSU from the previous semester, the strongest group in at least two decades. Figuring out how to keep students in college, especially those students who are the first in their families to attend college, is an ongoing dilemma in higher education nationwide.

“Students are staying here because they want to be here,” Gibralter said. “They appreciate the quality of education they receive at Frostburg and the environment that this University provides to them.”

A number of FSU initiatives are designed to improve student success, such as FSU Connections, learning communities that allow freshmen to explore an area of interest with a small group of fellow students; the Center for Advising and Career Services, providing essential support for transfer students and those who have not decided on a major; and a wide array of academic support services and monitoring programs, including tutoring, math and writing instruction, study groups, career development and assistance with the financial aid process. All of these measures are designed to keep a single area of weakness from sinking a student’s entire college career.

In addition to more students staying at FSU, the University welcomed 416 transfer students, the highest number of transfers since 1991, reflecting increased success in recruitment from Maryland’s community colleges.

“We are extremely pleased with our enrollment this fall,” said Wray Blair, associate vice president for Enrollment Management. “We are particularly pleased to see such a large group of transfer students enter FSU. We have worked very hard with our community college partners to help transfer students in their transition here. It is gratifying to enroll these outstanding students.”

FSU has dual admission agreements with Allegany College of Maryland, Hagerstown Community College and Frederick Community College. These agreements ensure a smooth transfer to FSU, with regular advising on course selection and prospective majors, as well as allowing the community college students to join in on FSU’s student life through access to activities, athletic events and communications.

For more information, contact the FSU Office of Admissions at 301-686-4201 or visit www.frostburg.edu.

Situated in the mountains of Allegany County, Frostburg State University is one of the 13 institutions of the University System of Maryland. FSU is a comprehensive, residential regional university and serves as an educational and cultural center for Western Maryland.

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For further information on this release, contact:

Office of News and Media Services
Frostburg State University
101 Braddock Road
Frostburg, MD 21532-2303

Telephone: 301/687-3171
Fax: 301/687-7589
E-mail: news@frostburg.edu

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