NATCHEZ &045;&045; Number counting at Alcorn State University’s nursing school this week showed &uot;tremendous growth,&uot; and growth isn’t only good for ASU, Dean Mary Hill said.

&uot;It’s an excellent, excellent move for this area,&uot; Hill said. &uot;What’s really exciting is we know from our database the majority go back into their communities.&uot;

So in two years a fresh batch of qualified nurses will emerge, most in the Miss-Lou, ready to work.

Hill said she suspected the enrollment numbers reflected opportunities the profession has to offer.

&uot;First, I think it’s more interest in nursing as a profession from individuals who would like to pursue a career with job security,&uot; she said. &uot;And, individuals who would like to make a difference.&uot;

Classes start Monday.

So far, 73 students have signed up for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, including 43 new students and 30 returning students. Fifteen have signed up for the Registered Nurse to BSN program.

The associate degree program has 76 new students and 46 returning, for a total of 122.

Numbers for the graduate program aren’t yet available, but Hill said she was expecting around 60.

Growth at the new Natchez campus’ Masters of Business Administration building is inevitable, Associate Dean Steve Wells said.

&uot;We do suspect we’ll have the highest undergraduate enrollment we’ve ever had, because now we have the space,&uot; he said.

The brand new building, which opened in the spring for some use, will see its first full class load starting next week. The classrooms are ready to go and the faculty has moved in. Some equipment and furniture is still on order for the resource area.

Through the course of the year, faculty will be working to develop a new master of accountancy program. Wells said the school planned to implement the program curriculum at the start of next school year.

Numbers at the Lorman campus are holding steady as of Friday, Director of University Relations Christopher Cason said.

&uot;We are on pace to do what we did last year,&uot; he said.

Last year’s enrollment was around 3,400.