If you haven't noticed the double cohort in hallways, coffee line-ups or parking lots, you'll see it in preliminary undergraduate and graduate enrolment numbers, reported to Senate Wednesday.

Preliminary enrolment figures for the 2003-2004 academic year (as of Sept. 10) show full-time undergraduate enrolment is 15,811, with 5,357 students enrolled in level 1. This is slightly above McMaster's overall enrolment target for full-time undergraduate students, which was 15,361, with 5,130 in level 1. Currently 2,027 part-time students have completed registration.

Undergraduate enrolment in 2002-2003 was 14,692 (full-time) and 2,906 (part-time).

“The overall target for first-year enrolment is higher than originally estimated,” said associate vice-president academic Fred Hall, “but I'd rather be in this position than the situation at some other universities which are struggling to meet enrolment targets; their shortfalls could affect their long term budget situations.”

He adds McMaster's average entering grade has increased this year. “The higher entering average is exactly where we wanted it to be,” says Hall. “Our recruitment efforts are going to result in one of the best entering classes we have ever had at McMaster.”

At the graduate level, dean of graduate studies Fred L. Hall reported that 2,098 full-time graduate students were enrolled as of Sept 8, but those numbers are increasing by approximately 20 a day.

“This is the largest number of graduate students that McMaster has ever had,” he said.

Last year, graduate enrolment was 2,005 (full-time) and 483 (part-time).

“These results are extremely gratifying,” said President Peter George. “The increase in average entering grades in the highest grade categories is very positive and I hope we can build on that in upcoming years.”

Final enrolment numbers will be available in November.