Spring enrollment reaches an all-time high

IU's enrollment is at an all-time high again this semester, with a total of 93,664 students enrolled for spring semester classes on all eight campuses.\nIU Bloomington's enrollment is 36,281, up 2.3 percent from spring semester last year.\n"The continued growth of enrollments on our campuses is excellent news for both our University and our state," said IU Interim President Gerald Bepko in a press release. "The students we are educating today will play vital roles in building Indiana's economic future."\nThe increase in enrollment has caused some IU administrators to think about possible enrollment caps within the next few years.\n"I think that enrollment caps have been debated in years past," said IU Spokesman Bill Stephan. "I don't think it's imminent, but I think it's a topic for discussion in the foreseeable future."\nStephan said IU's academic record for excellence and competitive costs have attributed to the increase. He also said he believes the state's economic problems have brought people back into the classroom.\nIU Dean of Students Richard McKaig said Bloomington was at or near enrollment capacity a few years ago, but the number of students has continued to rise.\n"If you don't have more resources, or more facilities ... you reach a point where you can't continue to take more (students)," McKaig said.\nMcKaig said he believes Bloomington's campus is at or near capacity now, but he thinks enrollment will level off, even after record enrollment numbers last fall and this spring.\n"I'm not so sure it's going to continue to rise," he said.\nStephan said any longer-term changes, such as more residence halls, would be considered after possible enrollment caps.\nOverall, IU witnessed an increase of 3.3 percent, almost 3,000 students, from spring semester 2002 at all eight campuses. IU Bloomington, IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis, IU-Purdue University at Fort Wayne and IU Southeast all had record enrollment numbers.\nBut even though IU may have to consider enrollment caps in the near future, Stephan said it isn't a problem the University is too angry about.\n"In some respects, it's a good problem to have"