HAYS – Fort Hays State University, which has more than doubled its enrollment over the past decade, announced yet another all-time headcount record for the official 20th-day of the fall semester, which was Monday, Sept. 19.

“We had significant increases in all three of our modalities, which are students on the Hays campus, students at our partner universities in China and students in our Virtual College,” Dr. Edward H. Hammond, FHSU president, said during an afternoon news conference. “Our total 20th-day headcount is 12,802, which is a 7.7-percent increase from one year ago. That is an increase of 919 students from last fall and the largest enrollment in the 109-year history of our university.”

The Kansas Board of Regents uses the 20th day of classes as the official enrollment day to provide a standard basis for comparison from year to year. This year’s numbers were announced after the last of the Regents universities passed its 20th day.

On-campus headcount this fall is 4,683 students. Last fall it was 4,415 students. That is an increase of 268 students, or 6.1 percent.

Headcount of FHSU students at partner universities in China this fall is 3,615. Last fall it was 3,459 students. That is an increase of 156 students, or 4.5 percent.

Headcount this fall in the Virtual College is 4,504 students. Last fall it was 4,009 students. That is an increase of 495 students, or 12.3 percent. The Virtual College makes a college education accessible to students who might not be able to relocate to a university community by delivering courses at locations and times that fit their busy schedules. It delivers “mediated” courses from FHSU’s College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business and Leadership, College of Education and Technology, and College of Health and Life Sciences through various formats, including but not limited to interactive television, video, CD-ROM and the Internet.

“Even with our steady upward trend in enrollment over the past decade, numbers in some categories have fluctuated,” President Hammond said. “This year is extraordinary in that the enrollment numbers have increased not only in our three main modalities but also in nearly every category within those modalities.”