Online Edition | Washington State University | Pullman, Washington | Friday, February 8, 2002

Washington State University’s spring enrollment total shows an increase of nearly 2 percent when compared with the number a year ago. Some 20,382 students are enrolled throughout the WSU system for spring 2002.

University officials are pleased with the increase of students of color on the Pullman campus. The number is up more than 4 percent.

Enrollment figures also show an increase in the number of credits taken by WSU students on all of the campuses.

University officials report fall semester applications are running more than 20 percent ahead of a year ago. They predict enrollment growth will continue.

"Prospective students know they want to be part of what WSU has to offer: the opportunity to work face to face with world-class faculty," Wendy Peterson, director of admissions, said.

Peterson said WSU’s new Regents Scholarship Program is one of the ways the university is attracting the state’s high-achieving teenagers. Under the program, every Washington high school principal can nominate up to two students with a minimum 3.8 GPA from the school’s 2002 graduating class. The program provides more than $3 million in scholarship awards for those students.

Each nominee who attends WSU will receive a $3,000 University Regents Achievement Scholarship that is renewable for a second year. From an estimated 1,000 students statewide, the university selected 100 for an additional $1,500, also renewable for a second year.

The top 25 Regents Scholars, recently announced from this pool, each received a full scholarship to WSU for four years, valued at more than $56,000.

For outstanding seniors applying for early admission, WSU also offers the University Achievement Award for seniors with a 3.6 GPA. Available on a first-come, first-serve basis, seniors are eligible for a $2,000 award and a $500 waiver on residence hall fees (renewable the second year if they maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA).

The university’s commitment to academic quality has been the focus of WSU’s strategic planning and marketing campaign as well, which has been another factor in the increase in applications.

"We believe that outstanding students are attracted to Washington State University because of its reputation," Peterson said.