ASU-Newport enrollment hits all-time high - KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports

NEWPORT, AR (KAIT) – Enrollment at the Arkansas State University campus in Newport recently hit an all-time high.

The school reported this week that it currently has 2,160 students enrolled for the 2013 spring semester.

This record-setting amount surpasses the previous high of 2,102 students set during the fall semester of 2011.

With more students taking classes, the school now faces a bigger challenge of keeping them all on track, which officials say they are more than prepared to do.

ASU-Newport recently expanded the amount of services that it provides to assist its students, like first-year student Logan Riley.

Riley began taking her basics last semester and hopes to continue her education and become a physical therapist.

"I love working with kids," she said, "so I think physical therapy would be great."

Riley has started her college career strong, earning all A's.

"If I make straight A's," she said, "then more than likely I would get a good scholarship and be able to go to a good school and have a good career to support my family in the future."

Riley says she is headed on the right track thanks in part to her helpful teachers and her faculty advisers, which all first-year students now must have.

"The adviser is going to sit down with that student. They're going to outline a degree plan that will map out the courses that they need to take each semester," said Amber Grady, "and it's going to be based on whatever the student defines what would be successful for them."

Grady also keeps her door open at all times, advising students as a counselor for student services.

"We make every effort we can to recruit the students," she said, "but seeing them retained and graduate and complete their success is definitely why we're here."

To keep that mission going, the school has utilized the PACE grant to expand the amount of resources for its students. 

For example, ASU-Newport now offers free tutoring in its new Academic Support Center, which Riley uses almost daily.

"They always look over [my essays]," she said, "and check and just kind of tell me what I need to add or what I need to take out."

Riley and her friends say services like the free tutoring and intrusive academic advising help ASU-Newport live up to its motto as a "great place to start."

To find out what other resources ASU-Newport provides its students, visit asun.edu or call 1-800-976-1676.

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