More students are pursuing higher education in Minnesota... that's according to a new report by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. Fox Mankato's Carly Aplin tells us one reason area schools are seeing an increase in enrollment.
Carly Aplin says: "Two schools in our area are topping the list of 32 colleges and universities seeing an increase in their student body...One of those schools is South Central College, which is now at 100 percent use of their facility."
Keith Stover says: "We are now looking at a bonding project to remodel and expand the college, add classrooms and library space to accommodate all the new students."
South Central College is reporting a 4.6 percent increase in enrollment, and Minnesota State University's projected numbers are up nearly 3 percent for the year.
Dr. Michael Faigan says: "We are seeing an increase in underrepresented students."
MSU officials say they're pleased to see an increase among minority students... and have developed a successful College Access Program on campus to help recruit and retain underrepresented students at MSU.
Dr. Michael Fagin says: "They go through a very extensive interview and if they are successful in that interview and accepted into the College Access Program, we do online mentoring and academic tutoring through their junior and senior year."
SCC has also developed a program working with MSU to recruit more students and get them ready for a four-year University.
Keith Stover says: "Students coming from small high schools maybe don't want to start at a large university, so they can start with us, get their general education out of the way, the liberal arts and sciences, and then go up to MSU."
MSU and SCC officials say the uncertain economy will not stop their efforts to make their schools accessible and affordable to all students.
Dr. Michael Faigan says: "That will not alter MSU's commitment to increasing access to underrepresented students."
Keith Stover says: "In America today we've just got to get a lot more young people involved with college."
To view the KEYC-TV broadcast, go to http://www.keyc.com/node/11918
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