The report shows that the full-time student population at the University of Maine System is up by just under half a percent.

A University of Maine System enrollment report shows the student count and number of credit hours they're taking are up at the system's seven campuses this fall.

The report was presented to UMS trustees at their board meeting in Presque Isle today. It shows that the full-time student population is up by just under half a percent. The last year that overall fall enrollment didn't decline was in 2004.

The incoming freshman class of degree-seeking students is up more than 5 percent from last year. System Chancellor James Page says while one year's numbers don't constitute a trend, he's encouraged by the report.

"It's very heartening that many of the enrollment management practices and other retention strategies, ectera, that have been put into place on the campuses over the past couple of years - I hope this is the early fruit of that," he says.

Trustees also approved recommendations to ease transfers among universities, as well as for students who transfer from the Maine Community College System.

This story was reported by Tom Porter.