The university is adding 529 parking spaces.

The university is adding 529 parking spaces.

STAFF REPORT

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Reports of an expected record number of students and a record number of parking spaces were given to Slippery Rock University trustees as part of their quarterly meeting.

While the official 15th-day enrollment figures won’t be released until Tuesday, trustees were told last week that enrollment for 2008-09 is expected to increase nearly 2 percent compared to last year, representing the ninth consecutive year of enrollment increases.

“We are pacing our enrollment growth to our ability to continue to offer quality educational programs and increase the value of a Slippery Rock University degree,” SRU President Robert Smith said.

Parking spaces, always at a premium on college campuses, were also added this year.

The year opened with 4,252 spaces, up from 3,723 last fall. An additional 180 spaces are expected as soon as summer construction equipment is removed.

When those spaces are added, the university will show a net increase of 529 spaces. The major increase in parking spaces are those designated for resident students.

The university reopened a lot near the former Founders Hall location and space in the lower N. Kerr Thompson Stadium parking lot. With the addition of two new residence halls this year, a new, close-proximity lot also was added.

“As more students bring cars to campus, parking becomes a larger issue. We are working to accommodate the needs of faculty, staff, students and visitors by constantly monitoring our parking availability and making changes when and where necessary,” Smith said. “As the campus continues to go ‘green,’ we are also encouraging members of the university family to walk or take advantage of the Green Bike Initiative whenever possible.”

Smith used a series of numbers to update trustees on continuing successes at the university as part of his quarterly report.

He said 40 percent of incoming students are from the top 25 percent of their high school graduating class, up 62 percent since 2001; 12 percent of incoming students are from the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class, up 83 percent since 2000. He said entering freshmen this year had a 3.39 high school grade point average.

Smith said SRU retention efforts are continuing to pay rewards, currently standing at 79 percent, an increase of 12 percent since 2000.