The spotlight was on enrollment during Iowa State President Steven Leath’s convocation Thursday night. 

With enrollment at 36,001 this fall, and another record broken, Leath said the growth was due in large part to the the staff in recruiting, admissions and marketing as well as Iowa State alumni. 

“There’s a reason students are coming here,” Leath said. 

Leath also touched on the need for the $100 tuition increase for instate students, by appealing to the quality of education students at Iowa State receive.

“Access with affordability without quality is no bargain,” Leath said. “I assure students we’ll use it wisely.”

The Moving Students Forward program was another focal point of Leath’s speech. The program, which is aiming to reduce student debt, was announced to have a five-year funding plan to raise $200 million. 

Leath also said Iowa State is going to push for more funding from the legislature next year in order to help fund a university that has continuously been experiencing record enrollment.