University of Missouri reports increased first-day enrollment

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The University of Missouri said Monday that enrollment on the first day of classes increased over fall 2019.

MU said in a news release that 4 percent more students were enrolled than in 2019, for a total of 30,849 as of Monday. The school reported a record rate of last year's freshmen returning to MU this year -- 90 percent.

The increase comes despite a semester starting while the COVID-19 pandemic remains active in Boone County, Missouri and nationwide. The county's rate of people testing positive for COVID-19 and the average cases per day have been on the rise since students returned to the MU campus.

The county health department reported 119 new cases over the weekend, with a large chunk of them in the 20-24 age group.

Classes were shifted to all online when MU closed down its campus as the pandemic took hold in March.

MU adjusted for COVID-19 this semester, with staggered move-in times to prevent large groups of people in one place, a mask requirement in classes and socially distanced classrooms. MU calls its plan for a return to classes Show Me Renewal.

This year's course enrollment is about 51 percent in-person, 32.5 percent fully online and 16.5 percent blended, MU says.

Lectures typically given in halls have been moved online to prevent a large number of people from being in the same room at the same time.

“We have heard overwhelmingly from students that they wanted an in-person experience this fall,” Kim Humphrey, vice provost for enrollment management, said in the news release. “Although we will continue to monitor the pandemic situation closely and are ready to made any needed adjustments, our enrollment numbers show students and their families have confidence in our plans.”

Official enrollment figures will not be recorded until about a month into the semester.