BLUEFIELD — Bluefield College began the fall 2009 semester with a 22 percent increase in new student enrollment and the highest new traditional student figures since the fall of 2006.
Traditional new student numbers at BC — including new freshmen, new transfers and reapplications — totaled 175 this fall, up 32 from the 143 new traditional students a year ago. This fall’s new traditional student total also is the school’s highest since 2006 when 179 total new traditional students enrolled.
New students at Bluefield make up the class of 2013.
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“We are blessed and greatly pleased with the increased enrollment numbers this fall,” said President David Olive. “The double-digit growth in new students is headed in the direction we had hoped.”
Without reapplication figures in the equation, the college enjoyed a nearly 30 percent increase in new traditional student numbers with 170 new freshmen and transfers this fall, compared to 131 new freshmen and transfers from fall 2008.
Returning traditional student numbers also were up slightly. Two hundred fifty traditional students returned to Bluefield College this fall, compared to 246 traditional returning students in the fall of 2008.
“Our higher retention rate in regards to returning students speaks highly of the quality of our academic programs and the value of our extracurricular activities,” Olive said, “both of which contribute to a meaningful living and learning community.”
Together, new (175) and returning (250) traditional student numbers totaled 425 this fall, giving BC a nine percent increase over last fall's new (143) and returning (246) traditional total of 389.
“These numbers reflect a positive direction and further represent the hard work that so many have given in making this possible,” Olive added. “We are grateful for the commitment our faculty and staff have to this college, for their love for our students, and for the sacrifice and service they offer for Kingdom work.”
The good news of the increase in enrollment comes just days after the college learned it had been ranked among the Top 50 Baccalaureate Colleges in the South by U.S. News & World Report in its recent edition of “America’s Best Colleges.” BC also just recently celebrated the grand opening of East River Hall, its first new residence facility in nearly 30 years. In addition, the school recently received two separate major gifts to support a new instrumental music program and a proposed Campus-Community Center.
Chris Shoemaker is communications director at Bluefield College.