Competition grows with school’s enrollment numbers

ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) — Southern Oregon University has added faculty to its most popular departments at it accommodates an ever-increasing load of students.

University spokesman Jim Beaver says the university expects this year’s class to set enrollment records when the numbers are officially released in November.

There are more freshman, transfer, graduate and foreign students this year than in 2009, when the university had 5,104 students enrolled.

Officials say the Great Recession may be contributing to the number of students staying enrolled or re-enrolling.

That means more competition for classes, housing and work-study jobs, as well as larger class sizes.

Beaver says the Southern Oregon has no plan to join the state’s three most-populous institutions as a large university, and says the school will try to protect small class sizes.

___

Information from: The Ashland Daily Tidings, http://www.dailytidings.com