Alma Eyes Second Straight Year of 400 New Students
Only once in its history has Alma College enrolled back-to-back
400-plus new students. The College is poised to do that again this fall
with an anticipated incoming class close to last fall’s record 452
entering students.
Final numbers won’t be known until September, but all signs point to a
freshman class in the 430-to-450 range, according to Evan Montague,
admissions director.
“The last time the College enrolled more than 400 students in two
consecutive years was 1992 and 1993,” says Montague. “To date, almost
440 students have submitted their commitment deposits for fall 2008.”
New students attend Becoming a Scot Day.
Alma
College enrolled its largest new student class in its history last fall
and its largest overall enrollment since 2001. Last year’s total
enrollment of 1,355 students was a 9 percent increase over the previous
year. Alma has enrolled 400 or more new students only six times in its
history.
The enrollment momentum has continued during this year’s student
recruitment season. The College added a third student orientation,
titled “Becoming a Scot Day,” to accommodate the large number of
students.
“Alma College is about student involvement and having access to
learning opportunities that typically don’t exist for most students at
other institutions,” says Karen Klumpp, vice president for enrollment.
“One of our students commented last year that while other institutions
have some outstanding opportunities for a small segment of their
students, at Alma those opportunities are the norm for every student.”
Other factors affecting enrollment are an inviting physical campus,
strong academic programs, an emphasis on close student-faculty
interaction, leadership development opportunities, enhanced visibility
for athletics participation, and faculty involvement from the first
time a student steps onto the campus through graduation, says Montague.
“There is an excitement about the proposed facility improvements,
including the development of enhanced academic spaces, the renovations
to the Hogan Center and the construction of a new gymnasium and
convocation center,” he says. “These are improvements that will support
and enhance the student experience at Alma.
“These kinds of initiatives show prospective students and their
families that Alma College is an institution on the move — where
students are at the center of everything that happens,” he says.
Preterm classes for new students begin Aug. 23. Fall classes for returning students begin Sept. 2.
Posted: Fri, June 27th, 2008 at 9:42AM
