Wilmington College enrolls record-breaking entering class
Wilmington College is hosting the largest group of new students in its 144-year history.
Enrollment figures, which became official this week after the 14th day since the start of classes Aug. 25, confirm the entering class of freshmen and transfer students constitutes a record.
The new students include 383 first-time freshmen and 54 transfers. The 437 new students eclipse the entering class of 430 students in 2007.
President Jim Reynolds not only commended the admission and enrollment management areas for a successful recruiting year, but he said, in essence, it takes a campus to enroll a student.
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“Everyone from faculty, staff and coaches to our Physical Plant, dining services and housekeeping staff played an important role in attracting this record-breaking entering class of students,” Reynolds said.
He also cited the excitement generated by having two major building projects commencing this year, along with several new academic majors and a marketing initiative that highlights the College’s hallmark for hands-on learning via outside-the-classroom experiences, service and leadership development, and personal attention from faculty and staff.
“These new students will be among the first to use the new Center for the Sciences and Agriculture and Center for Sport Sciences when those facilities open next summer,” he added, noting that as students traverse the campus this year, construction of these complexes will provide a day-to-day reminder of what is on their horizons.
“We welcome our entering class, along with our returning students, with a desire that they take advantage of the rich, transforming educational experience available at Wilmington College,” he added.
The 383 freshmen ties the all-time enrollment of first-year students set in 1946 when the GI Bill following World War II produced an influx of students that initiated tremendous growth of the College following the Great Depression and the war.
WC’s fall 2014 main campus enrollment is 1,093, an increase of 63 students over fall 2014.