In head count, George Mason edges VCU

George Mason apparently has edged past Virginia Commonwealth as the state's largest university.

GMU's unanticipated growth this fall -- amid state and federal campaigns to increase the number of college graduates -- should be a good thing.

But the university says that enrollment surge can't be sustained without more state support, and its officials are meeting with Northern Virginia's legislative delegation to seek relief.

"George Mason has grown and grown and grown, but we can't do it anymore," said Christine LaPaille, vice president for university relations.

Final enrollment figures aren't due to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia until mid-November and could change as some students drop out.

But a September head count showed 1,500 more graduate and undergraduate students than had been projected at the university in Fairfax County. GMU said its fall enrollment of 32,504 is the highest in the school's history.

VCU's overall fall enrollment is 32,350 students, just short of its target of 32,602.

VCU exceeded its projection for in-state enrollment and for on-campus enrollment but missed the total enrollment target by less than 1 percent, spokesman Tom Gresham said. Enrollment in off-campus programs, which include employer-funded courses, declined because of the poor economy, he said.

VCU notes on its Web site that it's the state's largest university, but the change in status did not seem to faze officials yesterday. Pam Lepley, director of communications and public relations, said the university's primary focus is quality, "and VCU is not, and will not be, in a race to be the largest institution in Virginia."

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/education/article/GMUU15_20091014-221605/299431/