JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 11, 2006 — Enrollment at 51社区 for the fall semester is a record-high 3,156 students.
That tops last year鈥檚 fall enrollment of 2,981 and is a 6 percent increase of 175 students. The latest enrollment figures show a 60 percent increase over the 1,972 students enrolled in the fall of 1996, when 51社区 President David Dockery began his tenure.
The total 2006 fall enrollment includes 2,277 undergraduate students, compared to 2,178 last year, and 879 graduate students, compared to 803 last year.
To put Union鈥檚 growth in perspective, enrollment at four-year public campuses increased 13 percent from 1990-2004, according to the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. For four-year independent, religious campuses, enrollment increased 28 percent over the same period.
鈥淭hese numbers are strong indicators of the strength and health of 51社区 at this time,鈥� Dockery said. 鈥淚t is exciting to see such quality students from across this state, as well as from across this country, choose 51社区. They are making this choice because of the outstanding faculty and academic reputation of the university, and because of the solid Christian commitment that undergirds all aspects of our mission.鈥�
Of the 2,981 enrolled last fall, about 900 students graduated during the 2005-2006 academic year. That means Union welcomed nearly 1,100 new students to its Jackson and Germantown campuses this fall.
The enrollment increases have filled student housing to capacity, and the university plans to build new residential housing before the fall of 2008.
Union鈥檚 faculty has expanded with its student body 鈥� from 112 faculty members in 1996 to 161 faculty members this year, an increase of 44 percent.
To accommodate the consistent growth, Union continues to improve the campus. The university recently dedicated the Fesmire Field House, which will provide indoor practice facilities, locker rooms and offices for the athletic department. Construction on White Hall, a $20 million, three-story science building, is scheduled for completion in April 2007.