ENROLLMENT ROLLS TO A RECORD.

Byline: Greg Bolt The Register-Guard

The University of Oregon is on track for an enrollment record this fall, evidence that steep tuition increases haven't quenched the thirst for a college degree.

Preliminary estimates peg enrollment at 20,200 students, more than 150 above the record of 20,044 set in fall 2002. Enrollment last fall dipped slightly to 20,033. Final figures for this fall will be released in early November.

UO Admissions Director Martha Pitts said she wasn't surprised by the bump in student numbers.

Pitts said more young people and their parents recognize that few good jobs are open to those without a college degree, and she said the UO has tried to ease the sting of tuition increases by offering discounted classes in the early morning and late afternoon.

"The key issue is that despite the challenges that we face - and we have some funding issues for higher education in this state that make offering a really great education really difficult - I think through a lot of dedication by faculty, through creativity with the discounted classes and making the best use of facilities and staff, the students keep coming because they see the quality they're getting," she said. "It's certainly not easy, and I certainly think there's a long way to go, but I think students recognize we're doing what we can to maintain the quality for the number of students we can serve."

The enrollment jump is due in part to a larger freshman class, which is expected to hit close to 3,000. That's up from 2,819 last year. And the number of transfer students should be up by about 100, to more than 1,500.

Students apparently aren't deterred by tuition rates that have tripled at the UO since 1990 or by the F that Oregon received for college affordability in a recent national report card issued by a higher education advocacy group. But it's not clear whether lower-income families are getting priced out of the college market despite the enrollment increase.

The UO isn't the only state university experiencing a large turnout. Oregon State University expects to break the 19,000 mark for the first time in its history this fall, it's third record year in a row and a small increase over the 18,979 enrolled last fall.

Even with more students at the UO, classroom space seems to be adequate. When it last set a record in 2002, the UO experienced a classroom shortage because a large portion of what is now Lillis Hall was under construction.

UO Registrar Herb Chereck said that isn't much of an issue this year. He said few problems have cropped up in the first few days of fall term.

"In some classes we still have to use a shoehorn to get one or two more in, but overall I think it went exceptionally well," he said. "Campuswide, I think the start-up went much better than it has in years."

That includes class registration. Cherek said it appears that very few students had trouble getting into classes they need to complete their degrees.

The same story was heard in the residence halls. Even with the larger freshman class, UO Housing Director Mike Eyster said the halls should settle in at a "comfortably full" level of 3,200 students.

Overall, UO officials said the mood on campus seems noticeably better this fall than in the past. Attendance at a voluntary leadership class last week and freshman convocation on Sunday was strong, they said, and the general feeling seems to be one of optimism.

"Students and their families seem so happy to be here," Pitts said. "There is just a really great mood on campus. People are really, really happy, and that's a great way to start the year off."

UO ENROLLMENT

Full- and part-time students at the start of the University of Oregon's fall terms

2004: 20,200

2003: 20,033

2002: 20,044

2001: 19,008

2000: 17,843

1999: 16,716

1998: 16,780

1997: 17,207

1996: 17,269

1995: 17,138

1994: 16,681

- University of Oregon

CAPTION(S):

University of Oregon students crowd the new plaza at East 13th Avenue and University Street between classes on Wednesday afternoon.