This article is from the EMU News Archive. Current EMU new is available at www.emu.edu/news

EMU Enrollment Up, More Part-Time Students

Enrollment at Eastern Mennonite University has set a new record this fall, with the increase primarily reflecting continued growth in the graduate education programs in Harrisonburg and Lancaster, Pa.

An anticipated total enrollment of 1,660 students - undergraduate, seminary and graduate - compares to 1,511 last fall, according to figures released by David A. Detrow, university registrar.

Traditional undergraduate enrollment numbers 902 students, compared to 933 a year ago. Of that total, 867 are full-time students.

I’m very pleased with the class of students we enrolled this year," said Stephanie C. Shafer, director of undergraduate admissions. "The first-year students bring diversity to the campus, representing 17 states and four countries. Multi-ethnic students are 18 percent of the first-year class.

"The number of new students from Mennonite high schools - 78 compared to 53 last year - is the highest it has been in years, and overall the students are academically strong," she added. "We welcome this fantastic group of students to our community and look forward to a wonderful year."

Eastern Mennonite Seminary, a graduate program of theological studies on the EMU campus, has 141 students enrolled this fall compared to 134 last fall. There are 63 students enrolled full time at EMS, 11 fewer than last fall.

Twenty-two seminary students are enrolled in "Distance Learning" (on-line) classes, eight more than a year ago.

The growth spurt came in the university's graduate programs, particularly in part-time enrollment in the M.A. in education program, from 69 last fall to 172 this fall on the Harrisonburg campus and from 51 to 102 in the EMU at Lancaster program.

The M.A. in counseling program has a total enrollment of 38 students compared to 36 a year ago; the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (Conflict Transformation) program increased from 58 to 62 students; and the master of business administration program has 31 students compared to 25 last fall.

The Adult Degree Completion Program (ADCP), an accelerated, non-traditional baccalaureate degree program, has 96 students enrolled this fall on the Harrisonburg campus, up two from last fall, while EMU's Lancaster, Pa., ADCP program dropped from 40 to 36 students.

The Intensive English Program (IEP), which prepares international students for undergraduate collegiate work, has 33 full- and part-time students this fall, down five over last year.

"It is a real privilege, and sacred responsibility, to partner with families and communities in the preparation of our students for service in the church and world as this new academic year unfolds," EMU President Loren E. Swartzendruber said.

— article by: Jim Bishop; posted September 14, 2005