Eastern students enrolled in record numbers for Fall 2006, according to the 10-day enrollment figures released Tuesday.

“We had another record enrollment,” said Eastern President Lou Hencken. “Just about every goal we set for ourselves, we hit.”

Those goals included increasing international, minority and honors students.

“I’m pleased to see international students here for various reasons,” Hencken said, including bringing more culture to Eastern and spreading news about Eastern around the world. International enrollment increased by 19 students this year, up from 132 to 151.

This was the first increase in international student enrollment since before Sept. 11, 2001, said Brenda Major, director of admissions.

“It (9/11) had a tremendous impact in terms of everything we do for admissions” concerning international students, she said. “I’m hoping now that things are staring to get better in that regard.”

Minority student enrollment also increased this year to total 1,401, up from 1,276 in 2005. Increasing minority enrollment was another goal of the university, Major said.

“I think word is getting out to the minority population that we’re an excellent university.”

A new program, Access Granted, was implemented this year to increase minority student enrollment.

Minority students who had already been admitted to Eastern were invited to spend a weekend on campus in February. Forty-eight students attended the program, and 35 of them ultimately registered to enroll at Eastern.

“It was an opportunity for them to get acclimated on campus,” Major said. “The goal was to increase the diversity of our incoming class, and it seems to have worked.”

Another goal the university reached was increased enrollment in the Honors College. The college saw a record number in new student enrollment, with 181 freshmen, making up nearly 10 percent of total entering freshmen.

“We are probably approaching about as large an honors number as we should have, given our population at the university,” said Blair Lord, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “I expect we’re not going to go above 10 percent in the foreseeable future. I’m very pleased with the success of the honors college.”