Chadron State College opened its fall semester Aug. 24 on an optimistic note.

Dr. Randy Rhine, CSC vice president for enrollment management and student services, said the residence halls are full and that preliminary figures indicate another enrollment increase. Rhine said the numbers showed the head count was up 4 percent from a year ago, and the full-time equivalency had increased 1.3 percent.

He said the figure will change as students drop and add courses and as students enroll for courses that begin later in the semester.

Coming into this fall, the institution has reported four consecutive semesters and three consecutive fall semester enrollment increases.