(Photo by August Jennewein)

Higher education news has been pretty grim in recent weeks, but a big bounce in applications and an increase in admissions in the spring semester has marketing and admissions leaders at the University of Missouri–St. Louis smiling.

“With freshman applications up 20 percent and transfers up 15 percent from last spring, we know our combined efforts in recruiting and marketing are being rewarded,” said Ron Gossen, senior associate vice chancellor of marketing and communications at UMSL. The university has been engaged in a focused yearlong effort to increase applications and admissions at UMSL. Admissions for the spring semester rose 5 percent overall.

Alan Byrd, who recently was named UMSL Dean of Enrollment Management, said the new student numbers for the spring semester were heartening. His office is now recruiting for the fall 2012 semester. One component of that recruitment is UMSL Day, where prospective students and their families can talk with faculty and students about the university’s academic programs, learn about financial aid, scholarship opportunities and the admissions process. UMSL Day is set for March 3.

“Registration is up and we’re ahead of where we were last year,” Byrd said. “Right now, we’re two weeks ahead of the same point last year. It bodes another record-breaking open house event.”

Held each fall and spring, UMSL Day has attracted record numbers of potential students in recent years. Nearly 1,000 people attended fall 2011 UMSL Day, more than double the attendance for fall 2010.