Bluefield College traditional student numbers are on the rise. In fact, this fall 440 traditional students signed up for classes at BC — the largest number of traditional students on campus since the fall of 2004.
The 440 traditional student total this fall is a more than four percent increase over the 423 traditional students from the fall of 2009 and a more than 13 percent increase over traditional student numbers from the fall of 2008.
“This is very good news for which we all should give thanks,” said Dr. Robert Shippey, vice president for enrollment management. “Not since 2004 have we seen traditional student numbers this high on the BC campus.”
Of the 440 total traditional students, 161 are new, including freshmen and transfer students, and with the advent of football, BC leaders are confident new student numbers will continue to grow.
“We are greatly encouraged in thinking that with the start of football we will surpass 500 traditional students next fall,” said President David Olive, “an enrollment level not seen at Bluefield College in more than a decade.”
In addition to the record number of traditional students enrolled, Bluefield College is celebrating its largest resident population ever. Two hundred eighty of BC’s 440 traditional students are living on campus in residence halls.
The record number of resident students is due in large part to the construction of East River Hall, the college’s newest residence facility dedicated and opened in the fall of 2009. A $4.3 million structure featuring large commons rooms with kitchenettes, computer labs and laundry facilities, East River Hall accommodates 100 students and is the school’s first new residence hall since 1980.
BC leaders also attribute the growth in resident population to recently completed renovations to the Student Activities Center and the start of the development of new athletic and recreation fields on property across the road from the main campus.
“We are grateful for the generosity of Jack and Phyllis Marcom, Betty Corte and the Corte Foundation, and Jack and Gayle Meshel that made the Student Activities Center improvements possible,” said Dr. Olive. “And, we are equally thankful for the contributions of David Skidmore and E. Dillon and Company, Ron and Zane Campbell, and Phillip Bailey that have allowed us to begin work on the athletic fields on our south campus.”
Bluefield College is a private, Christ-centered liberal arts college with a mission to prepare innovative learners and transformational leaders to impact the world. Ranked among the Top Tier Colleges in the South in U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges: 2011,” BC is best known for its service-minded students, caring and compassionate community, challenging academic experience within a diverse Christian environment, global education, critically-acclaimed teacher education program, championship-contending athletic teams, and international-touring music and theatre ensembles.