Record number of students enroll for fall semester at JSU

Jackson State University’s student enrollment grew 4.1 percent from last year, continuing the university’s three-year growth trend. Jackson State has 9,508 students enrolled at the university, according to the data released Wednesday by the Institutions of Higher Learning. Overall, enrollment at Mississippi’s public universities grew 1.1 percent.

JSU’s enrollment has grown 6.6 percent over the past three years.

Jackson State’s enrollment is its highest ever. JSU’s percentage of growth this year equaled that of Mississippi Valley State’s. In raw numbers Valley added 91 students while JSU added 374.

President Carolyn W. Meyers credited the university’s staff, faculty and alumni for the university’s increase in students.

“This is significant for us. Our enrollment management team did a great job of sharing our story,” Meyers said.  “We are thankful for that, and we are thankful that parents and students are continuing to embrace the reality that Jackson State University is a great investment.”

Jackson State’s freshman class, the largest in the university’s history, has 1,202 students. One third of these students are science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) majors. In addition, 43 percent of JSU’s first year students are males and more than 40 percent of students are enrolled in at least one on-line class.

Dr. Nicole Evans, associate provost for enrollment management at JSU, cited teamwork as a key reason for JSU’s growth. “This is a great example of what can happen when people are committed to working together,” Evans said. “It also helps that Jackson State offers a great educational product.”

The university rolled out a number of initiatives during Meyers’ tenure. Jackson State is an Apple Distinguished School for 2013-2015.

On Wednesday, JSU held the grand opening for Create, which is a space in the H.T. Sampson Library where students can develop virtual and physical presentations. Across the hall, they can sip coffee at Starbucks. The university also opened a campus-authorized Apple store in its Student Center.

To accommodate the university’s growth, IHL recently approved JSU’s request to invest $47.3 million to build a 628-bed housing complex, a 650-seat dining hall and a conference center. This project is expected to come on line in about 2-and-a-half years, Meyers said.

Jackson State’s campus housing is at capacity for the second consecutive year. Last fall, the university leased a 240-bed motel across from the Mississippi Coliseum due to record fall enrollment. That motel, which was renamed Tiger Plaza, was retained this year. The university has leased a 444-bed facility on its southwestern edge. JSU has an option for a second year but plans to buy the facility within the next 12 months.

(*Data provided by the Institutions of Higher Learning, September 10, 2014.)