For the first time in its history, Oakland University has topped the 16,000-student enrollment mark. Fall 2002 enrollment is 16,059, a 1.2 percent increase over last fall’s enrollment.

The university also saw undergraduate and graduate student enrollment increase, with the proportion of undergraduate students enrolled full-time rising by 2 percent.

“Topping the 16,000-student mark for the first time is certainly exciting news for the university,” said Oakland President Gary Russi. “Our long-term strategy of managed growth, which we are accomplishing through significant enhancements in academic programs, student life and facilities has made Oakland a university of choice in the metropolitan Detroit area.

“This is another important step on the road toward our vision of becoming a university of distinction by 2010. As always, our top priority is to provide a quality education for all of our students, and our seventh straight year of record enrollment indicates that we’re doing just that.”

Oakland has added more than 25 new academic programs during the past four years. This fall, OU opened a 132,000-square-foot Education and Human Services Building and state-of-the-art student apartments. A new parking structure will open in October, and a major renovation of the Oakland Center begins in October.

To read OU’s 2010 Profile, go to the 2010 Oakland University Profile Web page.