University of Memphis officials are expecting a large increase in the number of students attending its Lambuth Campus in Jackson, Tenn., this fall, based on the number of applications received through March.

According to Dr. Dan Lattimore, dean of Lambuth and the University College, 432 first-time freshmen have applied as well as 148 transfer students. About 300 students were enrolled during the first year the U of M began administering classes at the school.

Attending the Lambuth Campus flag-raising ceremony Jan. 13 were: (left to right) Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) board member Greg Duckett; TBR Chancellor John Morgan; TBR board member Jonas Kisber; Jackson State Community College President Bruce Blanding; Jackson Mayor Jerry Gist; U of M President Shirley Raines; Tenn. Gov. Bill Haslam; U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher; Madison County Mayor Jimmy Harris; former Halls Mayor Sammie Arnold; West Tennessee Healthcare executive Bobby Arnold; and Jackson Energy Authority President Jim Ferrell.

"We are certainly pleased with those numbers," said Lattimore. "As a result of the increase, we will be adding considerably more general education courses."

Lattimore said that "about 20 to 25 percent" of the incoming freshmen are from the Memphis area while the rest hail from the Jackson area and from middle Tennessee.

He said that more housing would be available this fall as well as a student center offering food services.

The U of M acquired Lambuth University last August. The city of Jackson, Madison County, West Tennessee Healthcare and the Jackson Energy Authority each contributed about $2 million to help acquire the campus. U of M officials believe enrollment will reach 1,000 within five years.

Visit www.memphis.edu/lambuth for additional information.