CORY MCCOY, comccoy@tylerpaper.com

Enrollment at University of Texas Tyler has soared to just shy of 10,000 students this fall with a record enrollment of 9,889 students – a 12 percent increase over fall 2015, according to a news release from the college marking its 12-day enrollment numbers.

The Texas Higher Education Board sets the official census date for official reporting for reimbursement by the state for all public colleges as the 12th date of a full semeste.

UT Tyler President Dr. Rodney H. Mabry called the increase an amazing milestone and said his staff has worked hard over the past few years to facilitate the growth.

The school was named the 16th fastest growing four-year university in the nation by the Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac for its 52 percent increase in enrollment from 2004 to 2014.

“I’m grateful to have been a source of support for those faculty and staff who dreamed of building UT Tyler into an exceptional higher education institution with state-of-the-art new facilities, nationally-ranked academic programs and extraordinary student-life experiences,” Mabry said. “Through the hard work of the entire university community, we have made those dreams a reality.”

Mabry came on board in 1998 and steered the school as it transitioned to a full four-year university. His tenure has seen enrollment grow from just 3,374 students to nearly 9,900 students currently. He also has spearheaded a massive increase in research funding, seeing the school’s allocations jump from $71,300 to $12.5 million this year.

Mabry will be retiring in December, but growth plans he has supervised will continue to take effect for the rest of the decade.

The school said new sophomore enrollment is up 28 percent, representing a trend of students transferring to UT Tyler earlier than they had in the past.

Graduate schools showed an eight percent increase, due to the performance of online programs, according to the university.

UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine, as well as a location in Houston.

Twitter: @TMT_Cory