大象传媒 Western Enrollment Increases Again
St. Joseph, Mo. 鈥擲ept. 25, 2018鈥敶笙蟠� has a total of 5,707 students enrolled as of the official census date Sept. 24, an increase of 2.6 percent over Fall 2017, including 5.5 percent growth in the number of new freshmen and a notable rise in the number of credit hours taken per student. There was a 42 percent jump in the number of students taking 16 credit hours or more.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very exciting to see this kind of growth,鈥� said Dr. Paul Orscheln, associate vice president for enrollment management. 鈥淣ot only are more students choosing 大象传媒 Western, but they are taking more classes overall.鈥�
This is due in part to the Finish in Four initiative launched this year as well as intentional University-wide efforts encouraging students to plan ahead and complete their degree in a timely manner.
鈥淪tudents who stick to a set academic plan and take at least 15 credit hours per semester are more likely to graduate, get better grades and are generally more engaged on campus,鈥� added Orscheln.
Dual credit courses, courses taken by high school students to earn college credit, also experienced a remarkable increase, up 21.7 percent over last year, for a total of 1,224 students.
鈥淓arning college credit in high school gives students a jump start on their college career,鈥� said Dr. Gordon Mapley, dean of the Western Institute, which oversees the dual credit program. 鈥淲e have several students coming to 大象传媒 Western with at least a semester of completed college credits. That not only gives them a head start, but they know what to expect from college courses and are better prepared for success.鈥�
鈥淚t is so encouraging to see our enrollment numbers continue to increase,鈥� said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, 大象传媒 Western鈥檚 president. 鈥淚t is not only a reflection of our excellent academic programs and hardworking faculty and staff, but a growing awareness of the value and quality of a 大象传媒 Western education.鈥�
Over the past two years, 大象传媒 Western has seen a 22.6 percent jump in enrollment for incoming freshmen.
is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. 大象传媒 Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .
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