Brittni Trollinger, Campus Carrier Staff Reporter
Berry’s recruitment strategy for the immediate future will be focused on maintaining an undergraduate enrollment of 2,100 students, the current level, assistant vice president of enrollment Brett Kennedy said.
Kennedy said with improving retention rates, enrollment is planning on recruiting new freshman classes of similar size to recent years.
“Our goals for fall 2014 are to enroll 610 freshmen and 40 transfers,” Kennedy said. “Based on expected retention rates this will maintain undergraduate enrollment at approximately 2,100 students.”
Kennedy said the reason for the recent increase in enrollment is due to the uniqueness of Berry.
“The college has made significant investments in campus facilities, the student work program and outstanding faculty and staff,” Kennedy said. “Berry’s recognition by ‘U.S. News & World Report’ as the number one up and coming small liberal arts college in the nation speaks volumes about why students choose Berry. We offer something different and distinctive that appeals to students and families.”
Kennedy said the main goal of the admissions office is to communicate advantages of Berry to prospective students and their families, focusing on prospective students’ specific interests and concerns.
“Record entering classes and increased retention rates are the result of talented, academically qualified students choosing the distinctiveness of a Berry education,” Kennedy said.
With the significant increase in male enrollment this past year due to football, Kennedy said the trend of more males enrolling at Berry next year will still fall within the 2,100 maximum cap.
“Fewer incoming students overall next fall means fewer males as well,” Kennedy said. “Additionally, nearly 100 males enrolled to play football. Approximately 35 to 40 new players are expected next fall.”
Associate dean of students Julie Bumpus said that along with the admissions office’s goals, the office of student affairs will continue toward their goal of helping the incoming classes through the transition from high school to college.
“Admissions sets their goals, and then our goals are to take the people that they have admitted and help them transition through the orientation program,” Bumpus said. “[Our goal is] to guarantee that they go from being admitted to being on campus and happy and knowing where their resources are and feeling like they are part of the Berry family.”
Bumpus said she thinks that more students are applying to Berry because of the “magic” that the school possesses.
“I think anybody that has had the privilege and pleasure to work here understands it; anybody that has ever gone to school here understands it,” Bumpus said.
Bumpus said this “magic” is one of Berry’s traditions.
“It’s not new. It’s always been that way, and it’s the combination of the values and the mission of the institution, and it attracts some of the most incredible values-oriented, smart, hard-working students in the world,” Bumpus said.
Bumpus also said that no matter the number of students enrolled, Berry students will continue to shine for the college, the community and the world.
“I think the future classes will continue to do what the students have always done since the beginning, which is excel in their chosen fields and live very meaningful lives that make the world a better place,” Bumpus said.