Two of Alabama’s three Baptist colleges reported an increase in fall enrollment for 2002. The third, Samford University, experienced only a slight decrease with a fall enrollment of 4,366 as compared to last year’s 4,377.
“We have tried to cap our enrollment and take in only 650 to 675 entering freshmen each year because we can handle that number,” said Richard Franklin, vice president and dean of students at Samford. “We have tried to keep our enrollment in a manageable way. We are not looking to see how large we can get.”
At present, according to Franklin, Samford residence halls are at optimum capacity. Despite housing crunches in the past, no new housing construction is part of any immediate plans for the Birmingham campus.
Fall enrollment at the University of Mobile (UM) rose from 1,986 last year to 2,003. Of the total who enrolled, 1,802 were undergraduates and 201 were graduate students.
The on-campus residential population grew by 3.7 percent, filling dormitories to capacity and accelerated the university’s plans for housing construction.
“The need for dormitory space is clear,” said UM President Mark Foley.
“We are looking at options, including apartment-style dorms, to complement the housing we already provide in Arendall and Bedsole dormitories and Avery Woods cottages.”
Percentage-wise, the greatest growth at an Alabama Baptist institution of higher learning this year occurred at Judson College. At the Alabama Baptist State Convention in November, President David Potts reported an enrollment increase of 5 percent at the all-women’s school in Marion.
According to Judson’s Department of Public Relations, of the total students who enrolled at Judson in the fall, 61 percent were returning undergraduates; 34 percent were entering freshmen; the rest were transfer students.
Eighty-nine percent of Judson’s students are from Alabama, and one student is from Burma. The remaining students hail from 10 other states.
Although not full, campus housing at Judson is near capacity.
All three Alabama Baptist colleges reported high levels of student involvement outside as well as inside the classroom.
Extracurricular activities range from participation in church and community projects to representation in student government and academic organizations.
Sabrina Holladay of Judson’s division of student life reported a variety of opportunities for student involvement, particularly in ministry-related arenas. “Students attend and participate in the ministries of several local churches,” she said.
“Baptist Campus Ministry has a number of ongoing projects, including summer missions and the Sowing Seeds of Hope project in Perry County. Judson’s department of education sponsors tutoring in local public schools. The Student Government Association is involved in Adopt-A-Mile and Perry County Habitat for Humanity,” Holladay added.
Franklin reported that Samford students are similarly involved in giving back to the community.
“All freshmen are involved in some sort of service project,” he said. “Samford students have completed their third Habitat for Humanity house. All Greek sororities and fraternities have their own philanthropies. This year, Samford students adopted about 160 angels for the Salvation Army project and there has also been a food drive.”
According to Kim Leousis, UM’s vice president for student development, UM’s emphasis on building the on-campus residential population over the past four years has not only resulted in the need for new housing, it has directly and positively impacted student life.
“Students who live on campus are more likely to be involved in activities beyond the classroom,” she said. “Being involved in campus life keeps students connected with their peers and allows students the opportunity to truly broaden their experience which is an important aspect of higher education.”
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