FORT WORTH -- Enrollment climbed to 33,788 at the University of Texas at Arlington this spring, according to preliminary numbers released Monday.

That sets a record and is up 17.3 percent from last spring's 28,813 students. It also marks the second year that spring enrollment surpassed the fall's, President James Spaniolo told the Star-Telegram Editorial Board.

"Our enrollment is growing, and it has been growing pretty rapidly," Spaniolo said.

The University of North Texas also has record enrollment this spring: 34,155, up 4.6 percent from last year, according to unofficial figures. UNT attributes its gains to increased class retention and new transfer students.

Spaniolo said more students are choosing UT-Arlington for several reasons, including a growing campus life, quality academics and its status as an emerging research facility.

"We are getting more applications," he said. "We are making greater efforts to attract students."

The growth also highlights UT-Arlington's challenge in educating more students with significantly reduced state funding.

Spaniolo said that it's too early to say how that issue will play out but that the university could eventually offer fewer courses or larger classes with fewer faculty. He is among university leaders working to convince lawmakers that higher education needs adequate state funding.

Diane Smith, 817-390-7675

@Nyx.AuthorDisplayName@ wrote on @Nyx.PostedAtTime@:

@Nyx.repliedToText@

@Nyx.replyAnswerText@

Reply to this Comment @Nyx.Recommender@ @Nyx.AbuseReporter@