LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Enrollment at Lock Haven University is up as LHU sees its largest group of freshmen students ever in fall 2007.

Official figures released by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education put LHU’s enrollment at 5,241, a gain of 66 students over the fall 2006 enrollment of 5,175, reflecting an increase of 1.28 percent.

According to Stephen Lee, LHU’s director of admissions, the enrollment increase is largely due to a record number of freshmen applicants.

“We saw an increase in freshmen applications of 8.9 percent,” Lee said.

Figures from LHU’s Office of Institutional Research show combined main campus and Clearfield Campus freshmen enrollment at 1,310 students, over last year’s freshmen class of 1,070. The number of new students, consisting of the total of freshmen and transfer students, also is at an all-time high, with the university seeing 1,599 new students this year over last year’s figure of 1,367.

Lee attributes the increase to several factors:

- Extensive recruiting in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York and Delaware.

- Six successful annual Open House programs.

- A television advertising campaign.

- A continued trend of increasing high school graduation and college attendance.

“Enrollment management is paramount at Lock Haven University,” said Dr. Keith T. Miller, LHU president. “The growth in enrollment speaks to attributes of LHU such as a dedicated faculty, quality programs and a safe environment. Our use of technology, the emphasis on global perspectives and the proliferation of faculty/student activity begin to set us apart from other institutions. We have been able to create a very holistic collegiate experience for our students.”