EMU enrollment picture continues to improve; housing, dining services see gains for new semester

It’s not how you start the race, but how you finish.

That old adage may be very applicable to Eastern Michigan University’s enrollment picture for the new fall semester. With 159 years of tradition, EMU is like the strong turtle making consistent strides in the right direction.

CAMPUS MOVING FORWARD: These two Eastern Michigan University students check their class schedules and learn their way around campus during the first day of school. Eastern Michigan made strong gains in enrollment numbers during the summer; housing numbers are level with last year and Dining Services sales have increased dramatically for the first week of school.

“We achieved great gains in enrollment this summer, as many at EMU worked hard to increase our enrollment and reach out to returning and new students,” said Susan Martin, president of EMU. “We are a warm and welcoming campus with good food, housing, and great academic programs, and the results in enrollment are beginning to be realized."

Martin said new double beds in dormitory rooms and flat-panel television screens in common areas are some of the more notable updates being added to residence halls.

“These changes help make students feel comfortable and at home to sprawl out and study,” Martin said.

“I am excited that 20 percent of our undergraduates are African Americans and 31 percent of our freshman class is African American. We have almost a thousand international students from countries around the world,” she said.

At the end of April 2008, EMU's projection of enrollment for fall semester was down by 8 percent but, since that time, has made significant gains. Currently, total enrollment is down 3 percent. As of Sept. 12, EMU had 21,926 students, who are taking 228,443 credit hours. In 2007, there were 22,638 students (both undergraduate and graduate) who took 235,305 credit hours.

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