University spring enrollment stands at 17,152 students, which is 83 percent of last semester’s enrollment, according to a Saluki Times news release.

“I am very pleased with the results we have achieved even with a very large December graduation, one of the largest in many years,” said Chancellor Rita Cheng in a statement. “Change is happening slowly, but steadily.”

Cheng said the enrollment number is consistent with 83 percent to 84 percent retainment estimates. The university does not recruit new spring semester students, so enrollment decline gets factored into its yearly budget, she said.

“If we get students in, it might be a student that decided to transfer here from another school, or it might be a student who came in late for whatever reason,” she said.

Cheng set a goal to reach a 2 percent fall 2013 semester retention rate increase per college, and she said some colleges already have shown progress.

“We obviously are focused on fall 2013 enrollment, and the indicators are promising,” Cheng said. “As of last week, we had received 11,962 new freshman applications. Housing contracts for fall, our best indicator of enrollment, also are running ahead of last year, currently by 20 percent.”