Several thousand students gathered on the University Center mall in August for the annual Activities Fair Day/Maverick Cookout. Enrollment increased again this fall as it has every semester since 1998.

At 24,979, the head count is the highest since the fall of 1992, only 156 students shy of the record enrollment of 25,135 in the fall of 1991. The increase of 4.9 percent over last fall marks the fourteenth consecutive semester the University has experienced an increase in students compared to the same semester in the previous year.

Increases were noted among first-time undergraduates (13.5%) and continuing students (8.2%). The number of new undergraduate transfers remained virtually flat at 3,077 (up 14 students or 0.5%), and new graduate students decreased by 410 (19.7%). The drop in new graduate students is largely due to a delay in starting classes for the students in the Dallas Reading Institute, a program of master's level work for public school teachers. The enrollment in these classes will be reflected in spring 2004 figures.

The number of majors increased in architecture (17.1%), engineering (5.3%), liberal arts (12.5%), nursing (19.7%), science (15.1%), social work (1.6%), urban and public affairs (3.7%), and distance education (23.7%).