Amid pandemic challenges and a nationwide drop in matriculation among college-age students, 91短视频 has logged another favorable outcome of stability in first-year and graduate student numbers this fall.

The outcome is significant as predicted a major enrollment drop across U.S. higher education reflecting economic and public health challenges of the pandemic.

The Class of 2025 is 208, slightly smaller than last fall鈥檚 first-year class. Both classes are two of the largest classes in six years. One of 91短视频鈥檚 newer undergraduate programs 鈥� the leadership and organizational management degree with an aviation concentration 鈥� in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, also recorded an additional 11 new first-year students. The Class of 2025 marks the full four-year maturity of a flourishing program.

聽鈥淲e can count this a victory against many odds, especially considering that national enrollment trends showed many graduating high school seniors were either choosing not to matriculate this fall or looking at other options besides a four-year degree, 鈥� said Matt Ruth, director of admissions. 鈥淲e actually lowered our target goals in anticipation, but were able to recruit a strong first-year class even though our counselors did not have the typical travel season to school fairs and our major open house events were virtual.鈥�

Ruth ventures that 91短视频鈥檚 success in managing COVID-19 on campus during the spring semester also gave both prospective students and their parents good reason to trust their 91短视频 college experience would be as normal as possible, with in-person classes, a thriving student life and residential campus activities, and extracurricular programming. 

The Class of 2025 represents 22 states and 6 countries, with the highest number of international students in the past four years. Approximately 28 percent are first generation; 36% identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color). The top majors include nursing, engineering, biology, education, business administration, and aviation.

91短视频 reports a total undergraduate enrollment of 917, inclusive of adult degree completion and RN-BSN programs. Graduate enrollment, which includes graduate certificate, master鈥檚 degree and doctoral degree programs, is at 370. has 51 students enrolled.

鈥溾�淲e’re seeing the impact that COVID continues to have on educators, nurses, and the working professionals for which the majority of our graduate and professional programs are designed,鈥� said Kirsten McKinney, director of graduate and professional recruitment. 鈥� We’re proud of the relative stability we’ve been able to achieve in this challenging climate.鈥�

Census data is collected as a traditional 鈥渟napshot鈥� on Sept. 10 of enrollment trends, according to university registrar David Detrow.

Yet enrollment does continue after that date. McKinney pointed out that 14 part-time graduate teacher education students enrolled after data was finalized. 

Other significant data points include a rise in transfer students, an increase in the three-year retention rate, and an increase in students in the Intensive English Program.

McKinney and Ruth share optimism about 91短视频鈥檚 future growth in graduate and undergraduate admissions. Their teams are beginning to resume travel schedules to promote the university and 鈥渁lready working with prospective students for spring and fall 2022 classes,鈥� Ruth said.

Innovative new undergraduate and graduate programs and a strong showing in retention across the undergraduate classes have helped 91短视频 report favorable gains in student numbers this fall despite considerable challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The Class of 2024, numbering 202, is the largest in four years at the Harrisonburg campus.  The cohort is further strengthened by 16 additional new first-year students in the leadership and organizational management degree with an aviation concentration at 91短视频’s site in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

鈥淭hese numbers illustrate 91短视频 continues to offer a unique and rigorous academic experience with the added value and marketability of unique skills, knowledge and practical expertise that make our graduates sought-after in job markets,鈥� said Jason Good, vice president for innovation and recruitment. 

The figures were released by the registrar鈥檚 office on Sept. 10. The data is collected as a traditional 鈥渟napshot鈥� of enrollment trends, according to university registrar David Detrow.

91短视频 reports a total undergraduate enrollment of 918, inclusive of adult degree completion and RN-BSN programs. Graduate enrollment, which includes graduate certificate, master鈥檚 degree and doctoral degree programs, is at 468. has 63 students enrolled.

 “Despite a challenging year with documented COVID-related impact, we are very optimistic about 91短视频’s future and growth,” Good said.

Strong reputation attracts students to nursing, biology, engineering

Though many universities across the country reported dips in first-year enrollment due to uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Good said. 鈥淲hile our prospective students and families were deeply impacted by COVID-19 affecting enrollment plans for many, thanks to a student-centered approach from admissions, faculty, athletics and student services we were able to enroll a strong and resilient class,” Good said.

The Class of 2024 comes to 91短视频 from 15 states and seven countries. Close to 30 percent identify as first-generation college students. The average GPA is 3.67. The top five majors, among 36 represented, are nursing, biology, business administration, computer science and engineering. Included in that is a large percentage of students who were offered admission into 91短视频鈥檚 Honors program.

At 91短视频 at Lancaster, 16 additional new first-year students comprise the second cohort in a growing undergraduate program that combines a leadership and organizational management major with a concentration in aviation. 

This is the second year of more than 100 percent growth in program enrollment, according to Mary Jensen, provost at 91短视频 Lancaster.

鈥淚t is gratifying to see the success of this program and student progression,” Jensen said. “It has clearly met a regional need for those who wish to become aviation leaders.鈥�

Graduates finish with a bachelor of science degree and several commercial aircraft ratings, enabling a smooth transition into a variety of aviation careers. The program partners with Aero-Tech Services, Inc., an FAA-approved pilot school to provide ground and pilot training. 

Innovation in graduate programs

Building on its strong reputation in specialized fields of conflict transformation, restorative justice and trauma and resilience, 91短视频 continues to develop academic programs that attract students who need skills to help them succeed in challenging times. 

鈥淢any professionals in a variety of fields are seeking further specialized training with an integrated interdisciplinary approach,鈥� Good said, 鈥渁nd our academic programs, with their emphasis on both theory and practical skill-building, are increasingly sought-after in fields such as health care, nursing, peacebuilding and education.鈥�

The MA in Transformational Leadership, a new online graduate degree program at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, has attracted 13 students in its first full semester from across the United States and the world. The program is helping to meet a growing demand for leaders in all professional fields who can promote positive change, manage crises, analyze problems and transform conflicts. 

CJP moved all of its courses online this semester, which resulted in the largest class of first-year graduate students in program history.

The new graduate Certificate in Trauma and Resilience in Healthcare Settings began its first semester with six students. 91短视频鈥檚 graduate nursing program, with a reputation for excellence among many healthcare employers, continues to attract high numbers, with 53 students rolled. Notably, 91短视频 will award its first doctoral degrees this academic year to six graduates of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program. 

Additionally, 130 students, teachers and educational professions in the Rockingham County Public Schools are enrolled in a course about online learning tools.   

The 2015-16 figures were released by the registrar鈥檚 office following the university鈥檚 official census date of Sept. 14. The data is collected as a traditional 鈥渟napshot鈥� of enrollment trends, according to university registrar David Detrow.

91短视频鈥檚 incoming traditional undergraduate first-year class, numbering 257 students, is the largest in several decades. From 2001 to 2010, 91短视频 averaged 205 first-year students, according to past records.

As for diversity, a record-high number of students who are ethnic minorities or come from other countries is reflected in 37 percent of this fall鈥檚 undergraduate students. That number is up from 36 percent a year ago and 29 percent the year before.

Graduate programs, excluding the seminary but including students from the, enrolled 450 students in comparison to last year鈥檚 356. Seminary enrollment was steady at 133 students.

鈥淭he continual increase in enrollment numbers at 91短视频 creates a genuine university feel on campus,鈥� said , vice president of enrollment. 鈥淚 am excited that students are discovering that we are a world leader in areas such as sustainability, medical school preparation, faith development and social justice. We are so diverse that everyone can find another who shares a commonality.鈥�

First-year class grows in diversity

Diversity data and other statistics related to the composition and demographics of the first-year class is compiled by the admissions department, under Director of Admissions .

鈥淭his year鈥檚 class has brought a contagious and positive energy to campus,鈥� said Good. 鈥淭hey have impressed me with their academic abilities and their ambitions to be catalysts for positive change in their communities. With overall enrollment growth, new facilities and new academic programs including a new engineering major anticipated to begin in 2016, it is an exciting time to be at 91短视频.鈥�

In-state students continue to increase, with 61 percent compared to 57 percent last year.

The university continues to be an attractive draw to local residents. This first-year class saw a doubling of enrollment from , increasing from 13 students in fall 2014 to 25 in fall 2015. Graduates of attending 91短视频 numbered 13 out of a graduating class of 53.

Good noted this first-year class added more students admitted to the , and came in with higher SAT scores and grade-point averages than the previous class.

Nearly a third of those new students plan to study or 鈥� a reflection of 91短视频鈥檚 highly respected and sought-after graduates of both programs. 91短视频鈥檚 are housed in the .

Restorative justice program highlights overall growth

Much of 91短视频鈥檚 enrollment growth in the last 20 years 鈥� since it took the 鈥渦niversity鈥� name 鈥� is due to the establishment of graduate programs and the .

The growth rate across all nine graduate programs was 26.4 percent this fall. The total number of students is 450, compared to last year鈥檚 356.

鈥淢uch of the growth in our graduate programs have been fueled by a very entrepreneurial-minded culture among program directors, faculty, and staff,鈥� said , vice president and dean of the 91短视频鈥檚 . 鈥淚n my two years here at 91短视频, I have experienced a very innovative group of people with a 鈥榗an-do鈥� spirit who are working in mission-driven ways to expand our educational distinctives to a growing audience.鈥�

Seven of the nine programs gained students, with the , offered at 91短视频 and at the Lancaster site, showing the most growth 鈥� a rebound from last year鈥檚 decreasing numbers. The program for working teachers has the largest number of part-time students (197 at both Harrisonburg and Lancaster campuses).

After a significant broadening of program offerings in 2014 鈥� three debuted in , and a 鈥� 91短视频 began offering just one new concentration, .

That program, , has been a significant draw, says Sara Reed, associate director of marketing and recruitment. Restorative justice in the school community, which has been endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, can potentially improve student behavior, improve school and classroom communities, and lower suspension and expulsion rates.

91短视频鈥檚 development of the program is an outgrowth of its pioneering role in teaching restorative justice practitioners through the and the , co-directed by professors and .

The , 91短视频鈥檚 oldest graduate program, has been operating at full capacity, with a wait-list for admission, for several years. It was the only program that enrolled the same number of students as in fall 2014.

Seminary numbers steady

Eastern Mennonite 鈥檚 enrollment held steady this fall, with the total number of students at 133; however there was a decrease in the full-time-equivalent number due to fewer full-time students.

鈥淪ince graduating a near-record 2015聽class, we鈥檝e recognized that we would face several challenging years in rebuilding our full-time student numbers,鈥� said , vice president and dean of the seminary. 鈥淲e鈥檙e pleased that a strong recruitment season allowed us to maintain the same headcount across autumn 2014 and 2015. And fewer students departing in 2016 gives us a promising foundation for future enrollment increases.鈥�

One source of rising enrollment are three innovative dual degree programs offered in conjunction with the seminary, said , director of admissions. 鈥淭hese programs offer an attractive prospect to many who see professional benefit from inter-disciplinary connections.鈥�

The can be paired with graduate programs leading to a master鈥檚 degree in , , or .

The increase in part-time students can also be traced to the successful inaugural offering of a hybrid program, which combines distance learning with one-week residential sessions. 鈥淭his program has opened up the possibility of seminary studies to more students with various life circumstances,鈥� Amstutz said.

Seminary students include 57 Mennonites, but also 25 students from the United Methodist Church. In the summer of 2014, the United Methodist Church re-approved EMS 鈥� for another four years 鈭� for the training of its pastors.

Other Anabaptist groups represented include Church of the Brethren, Brethren and Brethren in Christ. Students of the Baptist and Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Church of God, Seventh Day Adventist, and Unitarian faith traditions are also represented. Some students claim no particular faith tradition.

University community meets diverse educational needs

A total of 1,908 students registered for class at the beginning of the fall semester.

This number includes statistics from all of 91短视频鈥檚 programs, from traditional undergraduate students to non-traditional students in Adult Degree Completion Programs; part- and full-time students in graduate programs at Eastern Mennonite Seminary and in 91短视频鈥檚 School of Graduate and Professional Studies; and students in the , as well as those taking non-credit courses in conflict transformation.

Among the total enrollment figures are students at , Pennsylvania, and those who study online.

The overall number of students enrolled through 91短视频鈥檚 Lancaster campus in Pennsylvania increased slightly this year. That includes teachers seeking a master鈥檚 degree in education, nurses who want to complete their undergraduate degree, and pastors and future pastors who aspire to a .

The at 91短视频 continues to attract strong interest from international students and local immigrants. IEP prepares them for entrance into American colleges and universities. This fall鈥檚 student number is slightly lower than last year鈥檚 at 75, with the highest number of students coming from Saudi Arabia and China. A total of 15 countries are represented.

While fall semester brings a new burst of energy to campus, the summer included significant activity of its own. Well over 900 persons enrolled for one or more summer courses through 91短视频. This included approximately 433 for credit in graduate programs, 40 for seminary credit, and 242 for undergraduate credit including 60 Adult Degree Completion students taking general education courses. Also included are 53 students in the Intensive English Program, more than 80 non-credit participants who joined 70 graduate students (included in the total above) for 91短视频鈥檚 Summer Peacebuilding Institute, and many additional participants in non-credit courses offered by the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding.

鈥淭his data is indeed a valuable 鈥榮napshot鈥� that shows our two campuses are part of a thriving academic community that draws students of all ages from around the world for study and engagement during the year,鈥� said Provost . 鈥淚’m very pleased to see continued growth in the size and quality of our incoming classes in both our undergraduate and graduate programs, and other programs as well. I’m even more pleased to see the increasing diversity in our student body and faculty, which will enhance the educational experience of our entire community of learning.鈥�

There was this funny message: 鈥淗istory professors Mark Sawin and Mary Sprunger hope students will find them in their temporary office spaces borrowed from the library.鈥�

Some employees signed up to help colleagues move their office belongings from spaces they need to vacate on campus to other landing spots before classes begin.

A dozen staffers volunteered to clean dormitory rooms on a Saturday morning in July, responding to an emailed request for extra cleaning help. (Physical plant staffers needed assistance to achieve a quick turn-around between two huge summer camps using the residence halls, back to back.)

91短视频鈥檚 long-time registrar, David Detrow 鈥�77, was juggling classroom assignments, squeezing classes into all available spaces, awaiting the completion of classroom, seminar and office spaces on the second and third floor of Roselawn, plus those in the east section of the Suter Science Center.

鈥淚t鈥檚 satisfying to reuse and bring to new life a residence hall that has been under-utilized,鈥� said physical plant director C. Eldon Kurtz 鈥�76, perched atop the three-story-high unfinished elevator shaft attached to Roselawn, surveying a stupendous eastern mountain view with his assistant director, Ed Lehman.

Daryl Bert 鈥�97, who monitors 91短视频鈥檚 construction and renovation projects as vice president for finance, noted that inspiration for renovating Roselawn flowed from successfully meeting the needs of 91短视频鈥檚 fast-growing Intensive English Program. Before IEP moved to the revamped first floor of Roselawn in 2012, IEP was lodged in a small house near the seminary building on Smith Avenue.

Success of聽IEP

鈥淎fter our success with IEP鈥檚 space, we began to consider whether we could re-purpose the other floors of Roselawn,鈥� Bert said. He added, however, that IEP鈥檚 growth owed more to 鈥渢he energy and entrepreneurship of [IEP director] Kathleen Roth,鈥� than to its new space, which merely addressed the need for additional space generated by Roth鈥檚 efforts.

By the spring 2015 semester, one of the largest classrooms on campus will be on the third floor of Roselawn. It will feature a soaring ceiling, made possible by a 鈥減op-up鈥� structure on the roof of Roselawn, offering a great, naturally lit space for up to 50 people.

Another room will be the hub of distance-learning, with television screens, cameras and seats for 20.

鈥淚 expect a lot of our growth in graduate and professional studies over the next number of years to be in the development of distance-learning programs,鈥� said Jim Smucker, dean of 91短视频鈥檚 newly named School for Graduate and Professional Studies.

鈥淲ith a few exceptions, we are saying any new program needs to be able to be delivered at a distance. Our preferred model will be a hybrid approach which will include short-term residencies and synchronous and asynchronous delivery.鈥�

The undergraduate side of the university is also growing, with a 6% increase over the last three years and a 39% increase in applications since 2009. Tallying all of the programs, including graduate students, 鈥渨e are as large of a university as we have ever been since opening as a school in 1917,鈥� said Luke Hartman 鈥�91, vice president for enrollment.

The second and third floor of Roselawn will bring together a number of liberal arts departments that often collaborate in an interdisciplinary manner 鈥� history, applied social sciences, Bible and religion, and language and literature. (Psychology will join this group on a temporary basis, awaiting renovation of the western portion of the Suter Science Center.) A large-sized classroom, medium-sized classroom, seminar room, and gathering area will be shared among these departments.

Two of these departments will be vacating old houses on the southern edge of campus, which will be turned into administrative offices and 鈥渋ntentional community鈥� housing for students. The former language and literature area will be occupied by the department of development and church relations, which is moving from a privately owned house for which 91短视频 paid rent.

Meanwhile, renovations on the 45-year-old Suter Science Center are fully underway, with the word 鈥渞enovations鈥� used broadly. The 鈥渉ead room鈥� on Suter鈥檚 southern flank had to be torn down entirely when its foundation proved to be unstable. So that part of Suter Science will be rebuilt from the ground up. Some other parts of Suter have been gutted, as necessary to rework the ducting for heating, cooling and ventilation and to make other changes required for state-of-the-art science laboratories and classrooms.

Most building since 2000

Construction projects this summer are the most extensive undertaken at 91短视频 since the northern section of the University Commons was built in 2000 to house the athletic facilities, snack bar, game room, student-life offices, and bookstore. That cost $11 million. The construction budget for the projects underway this summer will total $9.4 million.

For its first 90 years, 91短视频 averaged one major construction project every seven years. The pace of new construction and renovations has accelerated in recent years, as 91短视频 seeks to accommodate the growing demand for up-to-date spaces.

Cedarwood residence hall was completed in the fall of 2009, along with extensive renovations to Elmwood and Maplewood residence halls 鈥� all conforming to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. These dorms have proven to be highly popular for rental by summer groups, which accounts for the thousands of new faces on campus this summer.

In 2011, the Lee Eshleman Studio and MainStage theaters, Margaret Martin Gehman Art Gallery, Common Grounds Coffeehouse, and the Kenneth A. Longacre Sr. Advanced Media Lab were completed, rounding out the renovation of the University Commons.

Renovations to the east portion of the Suter Science Center began in early 2014 鈥� a $7 million project.

鈥淭o stay on the forefront of a whole-person education 鈥� with graduates who become physicians, nurses, lab technologists, physical therapists, and other science professionals 鈥� we are committed to having the quality of facilities needed by our teachers and students,鈥� said Kirk Shisler 鈥�81, vice president for advancement.

鈥淚 am deeply grateful to the 465 alumni, friends and foundations that have supported our current renovations,鈥� he said.鈥�^*

Kurtz says Roselawn is proving to be an 鈥渁mazing transformation of spaces.鈥� Previously, consideration had been given to tearing down Roselawn, since it was not accessible to people with physical disabilities and had no air conditioning or cross ventilation via its narrow windows. But it was built on a solid foundation, with a strong shell, so Kurtz and Lehman worked with Blue Ridge Architects to find a way to salvage the building.

Learning from leed work

Now Kurtz thinks Roselawn might end up being one of the nicest places on campus, with 鈥渁ll the lessons we learned in putting up LEED-certified residence halls being applied to Roselawn. These are standard for us now.鈥�

Like Cedarwood, Roselawn will have its climate controlled through a 鈥渧ariable refrigerant flow鈥� system, used successfully for 20 years in Japan and Europe but fairly new to the United States. The occupants of each room will be able to regulate the temperature to their satisfaction. 鈥淲e keep adding climate-controlled space, yet our energy usage keeps going down,鈥� said Kurtz. 鈥淪aving energy is really satisfying to me.鈥�

Between the construction projects and the high usage of facilities by summer groups, Kurtz said his staff have been stretched thin this summer 鈥� 鈥渨e haven鈥檛 budgeted additional positions to take on the extra work.鈥� On the plus, 鈥渨e鈥檙e looking forward to less maintenance on the ancient and obsolete HVAC systems that are being replaced.鈥�

Lest smaller improvements be overlooked amid the big ones, note that night lighting is appearing on the sand volleyball court, with labor provided by physical plant staff and materials partly covered by a grant from the student government association.