The spring 2008 semester at Black Hills State University has the highest spring enrollment at the school in more than a decade, a school spokeswoman said Thursday.

The current enrollment is 3,920, Corinne Hansen, director of marketing and communications for BHSU, said. Fall 2007 enrollment was 4,004.

"We typically see a decrease from fall to spring," Hansen said.

She said two years ago, enrollment was 3,583.

School president Kay Schallenkamp said the high enrollment is due to several factors, including an improved retention rate.

The fall 2007 to spring 2008 retention rate reached an all-time high of nearly 85 percent.

"Our visionary founding fathers would likely be pleased to see that Black Hills State University has emerged as a leader in higher education, and now, 125 years later, is thriving with increasing enrollment and greater than ever interest in our quality innovative educational programs," Schallenkamp said in a prepared statement.

Hansen said the university has put several initiatives in place to improve retention.

One is identifying students who are struggling and offering a tutoring service to them.

Hansen said another initiative involves identifying students who have not declared majors and helping them choose a career path.

"If students have a goal in mind, they are more likely to keep pursuing that goal," she said. "Students who are undecided may be less likely to persist."

Hansen said fields of study in which enrollment has increased the most are biology, pre-med and pre-physical therapy.

The Master of Education in curriculum and instruction degree has also grown in popularity. It is one of two master's degrees the school offers, and it is offered online.

Hansen said that degree is often pursued by working teachers.

"They don't have to quit their job to go back to school," Hansen said.

She said teachers also like being able to apply what they learn to their teaching while pursuing that degree.

BHSU is also experiencing a growing demand for classes in Rapid City. BHSU offers more than 100 courses at a number of locations in Rapid City.

The South Dakota Legislature is considering a proposal to accept a land donation in Rapid City to build a higher education center. If the center is built, it would house BHSU classes, and classes from other universities, in Rapid City.

Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com