Enrollment at BGCT schools mixed_30804

Posted: 3/05/04

Enrollment at BGCT schools mixed

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

Spring semester enrollment numbers at universities affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas are a mixed bag.

Of the seven liberal arts universities that have begun the spring semester, three have experienced enrollment increases, while four have declined. The one accredited Bible college, Baptist University of the Americas, notched a 51 percent increase in the total number of students.

Houston Baptist University is on a quarterly calendar, and its spring semester does not begin until March 8, HBU spokesperson Sharon Saunders said.

Baptist University of the Americas, until last year named Hispanic Baptist Theological School, registered 207 students this spring, compared to 137 in spring 2003.

Wayland Baptist University in Plainview grew 5.5 percent, with 936 students at its main campus, compared to 887 last year. Wayland has 12 other campuses that did not start the spring semester until Feb. 16, and enrollment figures are not yet available.

Dallas Baptist University posted a 3.5 percent increase, with 4,426 students this spring, compared to 4,275 in 2003. DBU has experienced growth for the past 15 years, according to a university news release.

Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene registered 35 more students this spring, for a 1.7 percent increase and a total of 2,155 students. It is the school's second-highest enrollment in the last 10 years.

Four universities had drops in enrollment.

The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton had nine fewer students, for a total of 2,437, a decrease of 0.4 percent.

However, the total number of full-time students increased. “We have an increase of nearly 500 credit hours this spring compared to last spring,” said Steve Theodore, vice president for enrollment.

Baylor University in Waco enrolled 12,815 students in the spring semester, a decrease of 426 students, or 3.2 percent. The decline is largely attributed to smaller entering classes in each of the last two fall semesters and a larger graduating class in December 2003, the university reported.

Baylor's enrollment includes 10,728 undergraduates, 1,202 graduate students, 353 students at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, 419 at Baylor Law School and 113 at the U.S. Army Academy of Health Sciences in San Antonio.

Howard Payne University in Brownwood registered 69 fewer students, with 1,266 enrolled, a decrease of 5.2 percent. Registrar Lana Wagner said HPU had a larger than normal graduating class in December.

East Texas Baptist University in Marshall registered 1,226 students in the spring, a decrease of 128 students, or 9.5 percent compared to last spring.

David Mohn, vice president for enrollment management and marketing, said the economy impacted the area of Texas where the school recruits most heavily, but he is encouraged about the future, since the university plans to move to a flat-rate guaranteed tuition.