Lipscomb draws largest fall enrollment in its 117-year history
Janel Shoun |
This fall, Lipscomb University has more students enrolled this semester than at any time in its entire 117-year history.
The official fall semester enrollment is 2,744, an increase of 181 students since last fall. This 7 percent increase is the largest one year enrollment jump ever, according to available records. Lipscomb classes began on Aug. 20.
One hundred first-time graduate students enrolled at Lipscomb this fall in new graduate programs, including counseling, accounting, conflict management and accelerated business master’s programs. In addition, enrollments in the accelerated education and Bible master’s programs also increased.
Undergraduate students were also drawn to new programs and new facilities under way at the university, said Corey Patterson, senior director of enrollment. The new law, justice and society major and mechanical engineering majors were very popular among student recruits, as well as the promise of a newly renovated campus center this spring, he said.
Due to a record number of applicants, Lipscomb admissions officers were able to be more selective this year, boosting the average ACT scores of first-time freshmen by almost a half-point and increasing the overall number of first-time students, he said.
Lipscomb’s first-time freshman retention rate also increased from 74.5 percent in 2006 to 75.5 percent in 2007, largely due to a number of new programs designed to identify and aid students in need of academic assistance. The Adult Degree Program, which has expanded its online and evening class offerings, also saw an increase of 22 percent.
“The past two years have been an exciting time of fast-paced growth and innovation at Lipscomb. Our students, faculty and staff are enthusiastic about the future and newcomers are starting to recognize that enthusiasm, and they want to be a part of it,” said Lipscomb President Randy Lowry. “When potential students hear about our new programs, see the new academic buildings and student facilities under construction and feel the energy on campus, they are drawn to our campus, and that’s reflected in the 2007 record enrollment.”
Since Lowry became president two years ago, Lipscomb has established the first College of Pharmacy in Middle Tennessee, created the only Institute for Conflict Management in the Mid-South and established a campus-wide service-learning program. In addition, the Lipscomb 2010 initiative has resulted in numerous ongoing construction projects including the A.M. Burton Building renovation for the pharmacy college, a new music wing, apartment-style resident halls, renovation of the Bennett Campus Center including conference center facilities and new press boxes for the athletic fields.
One of the primary factors in the 2007 enrollment was the creation of several new masters programs designed to meet targeted needs in the community. Graduate student numbers increased by 107 to 381, the largest increase in graduate enrollment ever.
Lipscomb now offers 11 graduate degrees and is on track to begin offering its first doctoral program – in pharmacy – in fall 2008. This summer, Lipscomb professor Randy Bouldin was appointed as associate provost for graduate studies to oversee the development and operation of all graduate programs.
“Since January of last year, Lipscomb has introduced seven new graduate programs that enrolled students this semester. This increase in graduate enrollment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty, who are always searching for new ways to meet the needs of students in today’s working world and to prepare students for success in up-and-coming careers in our region,” said Craig Bledsoe, Lipscomb Provost.
For example, when surveys showed that working adults would like to earn an education degree but were not able to schedule the classroom internships around their work schedules, Lipscomb’s Adult Degree Program found a way for students to gain classroom experience in the evenings. Likewise, Lipscomb’s College of Business developed a unique accelerated format to allow professionals to earn an MBA in just one year’s time.
Lipscomb University delivers a complete liberal arts education characterized by an integration of Christian faith and practice with academic excellence, preparing each student spiritually, intellectually, socially and physically for life and eternity.