Fort Valley State University

Fort Valley State University administrators, faculty and staff are celebrating a milestone in the institution’s history. Newly arrived students have pushed fall 2008 enrollment figures to an all-time high. FVSU ended a second week of registration with more than 3,400 students registered, most already attending classes. The number represents a jump of nearly 35 percent over comparable figures last year.

FVSU administrators caution that when the final calculations are submitted, there will be a decline of, perhaps, 5 percent or more in current totals. But even with the slight decrease, the final tally will break FVSU’s highest enrollment of 3,024 in 1996. “Preliminary figures this summer indicated a rise in the number of students on campus. Today, we’re happy to see it realized,” said FVSU President Larry E. Rivers.

Terrance Smith, FVSU’s vice president of student affairs, placed the student population increase in context. “When President Rivers arrived on campus 28 months ago, we had fewer than 2,000 students enrolled. Last fall, we set the University System of Georgia record with a 17 percent bump. The university family embraced the president’s vision of ‘enrollment, enrollment, enrollment’ and worked together to double last year’s increase.”

The student influx is visible in the campus cafeteria and filled-to-capacity residence halls. “We increased our staff by one third and hired an additional 40 workers,” said Mia Buck, Thompson Hospitality’s resident district manager.

“The new residence halls now under construction could be filled right now,” Smith says. The new arrivals represent the largest freshman class in FVSU history and the largest number of students ever to live on campus.

“Final totals will not be tabulated until October. Some students who are registered may not attend and others will face withdrawal because they lack sufficient funds,” Rivers observed. “We are straining every resource to provide assistance, and will keep looking for every dollar we can find for scholarships and loans. And, we still can accept contributions this semester!”