There is more activity on Kansas University’s Lawrence campus now than any time in the university’s 140-year history.

The 26,814 students on campus last fall was the highest enrollment in history. The 1,390 faculty members were only slightly less than the record set in 2001, and they’re working in 4.5 million square feet of building space — the most KU has had.

Enrollment in the fall for KU’s four campuses — Lawrence, Edwards Campus in Overland Park and the medical centers in Kansas City, Kan., and Wichita — was 29,272 students, topping the previous record of 29,161 set in 1992.

But while booming enrollment in the mid- to late 1960s caused growing pains at KU, the recent gradual increases are causing only minor headaches for those who work with students and schedule classroom use.

“Fortunately, we’re not talking about substantial increases in numbers,” said Marlesa Roney, vice provost for student success. “We’re feeling the impact, but it’s not as painful as it would be if it wasn’t so gradual.”

Enrollment growth on the Lawrence campus occurred quickly during the ’60s. Enrollment increased 87 percent — from 9,325 to 17,476 — during the decade.

Growth the past few years as been much slower, going up 5.8 percent during the last 10 years. KU officials are expecting another moderate enrollment increase this fall.

KU’s goal is to maintain a freshman class of approximately 4,100 — roughly the same as the past several years — while increasing its transfer student population to approximately 1,650 students per year. KU currently averages between 1,400 and 1,450 transfer students a year.

While it’s gradual, the growth will mean some adjustments in the way KU schedules classes.

Classroom use

Don Steeples, vice provost for scholarly support, is in charge of managing classroom space. He said KU would need to add classes before 9:30 a.m. and after 3:30 p.m. and on Fridays, all times the university has traditionally shied away from holding classes.

Steeples said census projections showed the number of graduates from Kansas high schools would remain steady and then decline the next few years.

“Unless we get a lot more out-of-state students or a greater share of high school students, things will be pretty stable,” he said. “As of today, we have enough classrooms.”

He’s more concerned about having enough office and research space for KU’s booming research operation. The university is continuing to add faculty positions through use of its increased tuition money, and the Kansas Economic Growth Act — which aims to hire 60 life science researchers at KU, the KU Medical Center and Kansas State University the next 10 years — will make space even tighter on campus.

Projects this summer reconfigured classrooms to add office space in Summerfield Hall, Bailey Hall and Blake Hall.

“We’re fast running out of options and ways to create useful nooks and crannies for research space and offices,” Steeples said.

KU administrators are in the preliminary stages of planning for additional research space, probably with a new building on west campus. The Economic Growth Act could help fund the building.

Budget effect

Higher enrollment also is having an effect on KU’s budget.

A 1999 law gave state universities “tuition ownership,” which means they keep tuition money they raise. Before, universities forwarded tuition revenue to the state and some was returned to their budgets.

While increases in enrollment translate to increases in revenue, there are drawbacks, said Lindy Eakin, vice provost for administration and finance.

For example, undergraduate students from Kansas pay tuition rates equal to 37 percent of what it costs to provide them an education. Nonresident undergraduates” tuition is equal to 129 percent of their education.

“You don’t want to grow too much because (in-state students) aren’t covering the full cost of their education,” Eakin said.

KU’s admissions office wants to slightly increase the proportion of nonresident students during the next 12 years. A 100-student increase in nonresident enrollment, for example, would mean an additional $600,000 for KU.

But planning on having more students from outside Kansas has its drawbacks, if there is a sudden unexpected decline.

“The danger in doing that is if you live by the sword, you die by the sword,” Eakin said. “If those changes help you on the way up, you’re more vulnerable to those losses.”

For current students, higher enrollments may mean slightly larger classes or longer lines at the Freshman-Sophomore Advising Center, the Office of Student Financial Aid or similar student service offices, said Roney, the vice provost for student success.