HAYS, Kan. -- Fort Hays State University has been setting records for enrollment regularly since the turn of the century, and today's release of the official 20th-day headcount for the spring 2010 semester continues that trend with an official tally of 9,342 students.

The 20th day enrollment climbed by 11.5 percent compared to the 20th day of the spring 2009 semester, with the count of 9,342 this year representing an increase of 961 students over spring enrollment of 8,381 a year ago. On-campus enrollment grew by 46 students, to 4,015 from 3,969 in spring 2009, an increase of 1.2 percent. Virtual College enrollment grew by 915 students, to 5,327 from 4,412 in spring 2009, an increase of 20.7 percent.

The 9,342 total students is an all-time record 20th-day enrollment for a spring semester at FHSU.

"It is also important to note that the number of Kansans enrolled at FHSU, in on-campus and Virtual College classes combined, has increased significantly," said Dr. Edward H. Hammond, FHSU president. "We saw a 4.9 percent increase in the number of Kansans served this spring from spring of 2009. The total number of Kansans enrolled in FHSU classes in spring 2010 totaled 5,762, an increase of 268 students from 5,494 in spring 2009. And the 5,494 students last year was an increase of 248 from the 5,246 Kansans in spring 2008. That means that in just the past two years, the number of Kansans enrolled at FHSU in the spring semesters has increased by 516."

The Kansas Board of Regents mandates that its six universities report their 20th-day headcounts each spring and fall semester to provide a standard basis for comparison. The 20th day for FHSU was Feb. 10, but classes do not start on the same day at all the universities, so the headcounts were not released until today, after the last of the six universities had reached its 20th day.

The university's growth has special significance in the wake of the nationwide financial collapse that has forced budget reductions for all of the schools in the Regents system.

"We identified growth as one of the components in our four-part budget strategy, along with implementation of efficiencies in our operations, an increase in tuition, and budget reductions within individual offices and academic departments," the president said. "It was imperative that we continue to grow and find new efficiencies so that we can hold down tuition increases and operational budget cuts. We are pleased to see that our enrollment continues to trend upward."

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