Moving Forward

Programs that encourage St. Landry Parish high school students to continue their education have helped LSU at Eunice to a second straight semester of double-digit enrollment growth.

The Spring 2017 headcount is 2,924, a 20 percent increase of 478 students over last spring. That follows a 16 percent increase in the Fall 2016 semester, when the college enrolled one of the largest freshman classes in school history. The largest area of increase in both semesters came from dual enrollment students.

LSUE has partnered with 20 high schools to deliver college-level courses.  Dual enrollment students were up 71 percent over spring 2016.  Over 600 high school and home-schooled students are currently receiving college level courses through LSU Eunice.

The U.S. Department of Education selected LSUE as one of only 44 colleges and universities to participate in an experimental program to allow high school students to take courses for college credit.

The program is designed to introduce students to college-level work, and also give them an incentive to continue their education after graduation from high school. LSUE is working with the St. Landry Parish School Board to begin a dual enrollment health care academy for students interested in science, medicine, or allied arts.

Continuing and reentry students were up as well.  This semester, 1,923 students chose to stay at LSUE, an increase of seven percent over last spring.

Students transferring into LSU Eunice also increased over last year’s numbers.  Two hundred four students transferred to Eunice 

from other schools. New student enrollment was up 13 percent this spring.

“I am so pleased that more students in Louisiana have chosen to begin their higher education at LSUE,” chancellor Kimberly Russell said.  “While we are excited about a 20 percent increase in enrollment this spring, we are setting our sights on strengthening our retention and graduation rates.
“We want to ensure that every student from the 2016-17 entering class has the academic, career and support services necessary to achieve success—and that commitment takes resources,” Russell said.

Russell thanked “our LSUE alumni and friends who provide valuable scholarship opportunities to our students,” and reminded elected officials that “with their help, higher education in Louisiana can positively transform the communities we serve.”

The jump comes at a time when budget cuts, rising tuitions, and other factors have led to a decline in overall college and university enrollments in the state. Enrollment statewide has dropped about 10,000 students in five years, but LSU-E continues to show an increase, to 2,906 students this fall.

“This is truly good news,” according to St. Landry economic development director  Bill Rodier. “One of our highest priorities is to provide the best education possible for every student at every level in St. Landry Parish. Programs that encourage young people to continue their education, wither through college courses or technical training, will help those students build better lives and all of us to build better communities.”