The University of Mobile began the fall semester with record-breaking fall enrollment and the second Prayer Room campus worship event.
UM saw record-breaking number of first-time freshmen on campus when classes started on Aug. 14. An overall 14% increase in new students, plus a 72% retention rate, pushed enrollment growth at the University of Mobile to 1,916 students for fall semester 2023.
UM President Lonnie Burnett announced the enrollment numbers to faculty and staff during a Census Day celebration Aug. 28 in Dorsett Auditorium on campus. Census Day marks the end of the add/drop period when colleges tally their official enrollment.
“These numbers are the result of God being faithful and a lot of hard work — a total team effort,” Burnett told university employees. “This level of success involves marketing, enrollment counselors and staff, financial aid, business office, student success staff, student life staff, faculty and coaches.”
Highlights
Enrollment highlights include:
- UM’s fall semester 2023 enrollment of 1,916 students is an increase from 1,851 total students enrolled for fall 2022.
- The Christian university had a record-breaking number of first-time freshmen, with 288 enrolled. The previous record of 282 freshmen was set in 2015.
- Overall, the total number of new students including transfers was 418, up 14% from the previous year’s number of 369.
- UM’s 72% retention rate is far above the Alabama average of 66.25% overall and 69.75% for private universities in the state. The national average for private colleges is 68%.
Burnett said the University of Mobile attracts students who want to experience the difference of quality academics with a faith-based approach, where faculty and staff are committed mentors who know their students.
“Prospective students visit many schools, most of which are just alike. When they come here, they see something truly different that appeals to them. It’s because of our product, our people and our purpose — what we call ‘Higher Education for a Higher Purpose,’” Burnett said.
Prayer Room
Prior to the first day of fall classes, University of Mobile students, faculty and staff gathered for Prayer Room on Aug. 13. Prayer Room is a gathering of students for a night of worship and prayer led by the UM Worship Collective, a community of worship leaders and songwriters consisting of students, alumni, faculty and staff from the University of Mobile. The Worship Collective serves to lead UM chapels in genuine expressions of worship.
The University of Mobile’s Alabama School of the Arts recently released official recordings of last semester’s inaugural “Prayer Room,” held April 24 in Ram Hall.
Professor Andrew Goodwin, dean of the Alabama School of the Arts, said, “For the last 20 years it has been a part of the culture in ASOTA for students to gather before performances for a time of prayer and worship. These special times together have always been called ‘Prayer Room.’
“Last April, UM students gathered before finals week for a time of prayer and worship and, in honor of the long-standing practice in ASOTA, named the night Prayer Room,” Goodwin continued.
Prayer Room was recorded live and four of the songs were released on streaming platforms. Prayer Room, Vol. 1 can be found for free on Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music.
For more information about the Alabama School of the Arts, visit the University of Mobile website at umobile.edu/asota. To view upcoming events like Prayer Room, visit the UM calendar at umobile.edu/calendar. (UM)
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was compiled from stories written by Kathy Dean and Greg Naman. Find more stories from the University of Mobile here.
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