Xavier's figures show a four percent increase over 2008's fall enrollment with 3,345 students registered this year compared to 3,204 last year.

The University gives the credit to a solid freshman class - 746 - that exceeded projected levels and a welcome influx of new transfer students - 146.

The addition of 767 new freshmen and 146 transfers has pushed the university's current overall enrollment to 3,345 students, four percent higher than last fall's 3,204.

"It's very gratifying to see students and parents from across the nation continue to put their faith in Xavier," said Xavier President Dr. Norman C. Francis, attributing the sustained interest in the nation's only historically Black, Catholic college to its continuing national reputation for academic excellence and leadership in the math and science fields, as well as its solid liberal arts core curriculum.

Xavier's enrollment has grown steadily the past four years after Hurricane Katrina had knocked down the student population to around three-quarters of its best pre-storm figures.

"Despite the hardships we have endured following Katrina, Xavier has never wavered from its commitment to provide students with the academic excellence which people have come to expect," said Dr. Francis, pointing out that the University has produced nearly 3,000 graduates since re-opening six months after the hurricane in January '06. "Our students continue to compete and excel in the sciences as well as in business and liberal arts."

Admissions had projected an incoming freshman class of 740-750, due to the nationwide worsening economy, so "getting 767 through the door is a very encouraging sign that the Xavier brand is still strong among those who seek a quality education," according to Winston D. Brown, Dean of Admissions.

Across town, Southern University at New Orleans' (SUNO) preliminary enrollment also exceeds Fall 2008. Presently 3,163 students have registered for Fall, 2009 compared to 3,105 for Fall 2008.

First-time freshmen - up from 353 to 426 - and student transfers - 286 to 349 - are also credited for SUNO's surge.

While the numbers won't be finalized until September 11, the 14th day of class, Victor Ukpolo, Ph.D., Chancellor of SUNO, says, "We are pleased with this post-Katrina trend of enrollment increases since reopening SUNO in 2006. More students appear to be making our institution their first choice in terms of where to attend college, and this bodes well for our immediate and long-term future. Our recruiting staff works extremely hard to contact students and create innovative methods for reaching them."

This article was originally published in the September 7, 2009 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper