EMU has a total enrollment of 1,589 students in its undergraduate, graduate and seminary programs, according to figures released today (Sept. 17) from the registrar’s office. Total enrollment was 1,578 last fall.
Full-time traditional undergraduate enrollment is 858 students compared to 847 a year ago. There are 206 new first-year and 67 transfer students.
Total undergraduate enrollment, including students in the Adult Degree Completion Program (ADCP) in Harrisonburg and at EMU’s Lancaster, Pa., campus is 1,086 students compared to 1,075 last fall.
Class of 2014 diverse in culture and ethnicity
EMU’s class of 2014 during orientation weekend (Photo by Jim Bishop)
Perhaps as significant as the modest enrollment increase is the diversity and academic strength represented in the student body makeup.
EMU has 111 international students across its academic programs this fall – undergraduate, 42 (4%); graduate, 31 (10%), seminary, 11 (8%) and the Intensive English Program, 27 (73%).
Fifty percent of EMU’s first-year class members hail from Virginia and from 22 other states; 8% are international.
Sixty percent of the graduating class of 2014 is female; the class is also ethnically diverse (77% white, 23% other ethnicity).
Four percent were high school valedictorians (ranked first in their class), while 40 percent ranked in the top fifth of their graduating class.
Seminary enrollment reaches 145
Eastern Mennonite Seminary has 87 students enrolled in its Harrisonburg campus and 33 taking seminary classes in its Lancaster, Pa., extension program. More than 20 students are taking distance learning courses and four are taking Clinical Pastoral Education classes to give the seminary a total enrollment of 145 students, up seven over last fall.
The number of Mennonite students taking courses at EMS is up 10 from last year for a total of 83. Nineteen percent of the seminary student body is United Methodist; 25% are from other denominations.
Seminary Dean Michael King"As students introduced themselves during orientation I was pleased to learn of their richly varied backgrounds, reasons for attending seminary and visions for present and future ministry," said seminary dean Michael A. King.
"Just as we hope they will flourish under the training they have come to EMS to experience, we also recognize that they bring EMS gifts of fresh energy and vision."
Graduate programs and adult learner enrollment up, too
Graduate program enrollment remained steady over last fall with:
- 60 students in the MA in conflict transformation program
- 58 in the MA in counseling program
- 64 in the MA in education program in Harrisonburg
- 92 in the MA in education program at Lancaster
- and 32 in the MBA program.
The first cohort group of 15 students are enrolled in EMU’s newest graduate-level program, the MS in nursing, that began Aug. 28.
The Intensive English Program (IEP), which prepares students to enter undergraduate collegiate work, has 37 students from 14 countries, the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Steady growth across the board, says provost
"EMU offers top-notch academics in a rich, progressive Mennonite context," said Dr. Fred Kniss, EMU provost. "It’s gratifying to see this kind of steady program growth, even in tough economic times. More and more people are finding the unique value that we offer at EMU."