PORTSMOUTH — Each year, Shawnee State University enrollment has increased significantly and this year is no exception.

More than 4,200 students, including a growing number of graduate students started the new fall semester. SSU now offers Master of Education and Master of Occupational Therapy programs.

A record number of residential students are attending SSU this year with almost 900 students living on campus.

The orientation of new students also broke records this year.

A total of 1,200 students and more than 1,000 family members participated in the orientation process for fall semester.

During 2008, a little more than 1,100 students participated which was also a record-breaking year, compared to almost 10 years ago when 531 students attended orientation.

“Looking back a few years ago in 2005, 980 students attended with 519 family members,” said Dale Taylor, director of the Student Success Center at Shawnee State University. “The university community it to be commended for helping make the orientation experience successful for the new students and their families.”