Kansas State University

MANHATTAN — The more than 23,200 students enrolled at Kansas State University for the spring semester are more diverse than ever before, pushing spring enrollment to a record high.

The record enrollment this spring is just one part of the story, said Pat Bosco, vice president for student life and dean of students. The university had a sizable graduating class in December 2013 of 1,800 students and welcomed 650 new students this spring, including freshmen and transfer students.

"The large number of students returning in the spring speaks to the very qualities many of us at K-State take for granted, like approachable and responsive staff and faculty," Bosco said. "Record enrollments just do not happen. They often are a direct result of caring yet high-quality classroom and lab experiences and an intentional campuswide supporting cast. K-State is fortunate to have both."

The student body includes 3,237 students who identify as black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, American Indian, Hawaiian/Pacific islander or multiracial — an increase of 50 over last year and a spring semester record. Just six years ago there were fewer than 2,000 students who identified as such.

Such Kansas State University programs as Developing Scholars, PILOTS, McNair Scholars and Project IMPACT lay a solid foundation for students underrepresented in academia.

"Through our College-for-a-Day Institutes, relationship recruiting activities, scholarships and the MAPS Summer Bridge Program, the office of diversity is adding many resources to the efforts to attract and retain record numbers of multicultural students at K-State," said Myra Gordon, associate provost for diversity. "The excellence of our university — coupled with the vibrancy of our multicultural communities, our award-winning multicultural student organizations and the general support of these students across the campus — is so unparalleled in the region that it makes the choice of K-State a no-brainer."

In June the university will have three Wildcat Warm-up sessions. The three-day events for new students follow orientation and enrollment and allow incoming freshmen to say on the Manhattan campus and participate in activities and learn about university services, history and traditions before they make the big move to college for the fall semester.

The university also offers 12 single-day orientation and enrollment sessions in June. In August, a third three-day orientation will be added through the office of the provost and Project IMPACT.

Last fall on the Manhattan campus, the university opened the Honors House, welcomed a new sorority and two fraternities, and a new residence hall is planned to open in fall 2015.