ATLANTA -- State education officials say fewer students than last year are attending college within the University System of Georgia this fall.
    
The enrollment figures were released Wednesday.
    
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the system is teaching 314,365 students, a decline of 1.2 percent.
    
Of the system's 35 colleges, 19 are teaching fewer students. The largest declines are at two-year colleges and those that emphasize associate degree programs.
    
This is the third time since 1978 that enrollment dropped. It puts an end to more than a decade of record-setting enrollment growth.
    
State education officials have said the decline was expected since the pace of growth has slowed in recent years.

Associated Press