Written by Tiane Davis <\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Mike Williams announced in a press release to all Harding employees last week that Harding\u2019s freshman class enrollment had increased from last year. With a 7.08% rise compared to last year\u2019s first-year student demographic, the University surpassed its goal of 1,000 new students, the press release said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs we enter our Centennial year, the value proposition of a Harding education is extremely competitive,\u201d Williams said in the press release. \u201cWe are proud to welcome each student and pleased to enroll this extraordinary freshman class.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The press release reported a total enrollment number of 4,608, which includes students from 48 states and 58 foreign countries. The University, according to Williams\u2019 announcement, surpassed its goals for undergraduate retention rates and graduation rates with an 87% retention rate and 71% graduation rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The University made major investments into facilities and technology, said Vice President of Enrollment and alumnus Steve Lake, and the faculty made specific efforts to focus on enrollment after a seven-year decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe began to work much harder at pursuing prospective students,\u201d Lake said. \u201cThis year\u2019s increase is a byproduct of everyone in enrollment services working harder and buying into this new system and philosophy. Dr. Williams\u2019 leadership and energy provided some of the additional sparks we needed to elevate our efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The seven-year decline in enrollment was painful to watch, Lake said. Enrollment is the \u201clifeblood of this institution,\u201d and after he was asked to take it over in 2020, enrollment services began to \u201creassess and reimagine\u201d the methods they were using to increase numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI love this place so much,\u201d Lake said. \u201cThese are very challenging times in higher education, and to see more young believers have the Harding experience is extremely satisfying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lake said being able to witness \u201cthis surge in enrollment\u201d is extra meaningful knowing the University is seeing an increase specifically during its Centennial year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am a big fan of Harding\u2019s history \u2014 the people and the commitments and the sacrifice that was made by those that came before us,\u201d Lake said. \u201cWe will forever honor those people and their efforts. More people need to experience this special place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The continuing upward trend for the freshman class was a group effort, said David Hall, assistant vice president of enrollment. Each person\u2019s role at Harding is important in inviting new students to the University, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt feels good when you see the positive results for the work that you\u2019ve put in,\u201d Hall said. \u201cIn addition to that, I think the school has something extremely valuable for a lot of people out there, and it makes me feel like my role here has some significance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trends like this take more than just a mission statement, Hall said. In order to keep the trend, the University needs to tell the story of Harding in a way that makes people want to visit and enroll, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat takes our students and faculty being able to fully reveal who they are to our visitors, and I think we\u2019ve been doing that,\u201d Hall said. \u201cWhen students visit here, they look around, and they see students that are happy. They talk to faculty members who are deeply interested in what they want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hall said he expects Harding to see cycles of good and bad trends but that he believes Harding will always have steady numbers because of the need for Christian education in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am confident that Harding is going to be here for a long, long time,\u201d Hall said. \u201cWe\u2019re strong; We\u2019re financially strong. We have something extremely valuable here, and I think that there are people who need what we have that are flocking to what we have.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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