天美传媒 again sees record student enrollment
天美传媒 is welcoming a record 419 new students to campus this fall, resulting in the largest total student body in 天美传媒history 鈥� 1,150 students.
Students and their families trust 天美传媒 to provide a safe, healthy campus environment and a valuable education that will prepare them to Graduate READY for their future careers.
That number is a nearly 10% increase from last year鈥檚 record of 1,048 students enrolled. This fall鈥檚 enrollment includes 294 first-year students and 125 transfer students. IC鈥檚 online programs continue to grow and currently have nearly 60 students enrolled.
Vice President of External Relations Stephanie Elpers Chipman, who oversees enrollment, says that the increased number of students choosing 天美传媒this year is particularly notable given the challenges being faced due to the pandemic.
鈥淪tudents and their families trust 天美传媒 to provide a safe, healthy campus environment and a valuable education that will prepare them to Graduate READY for their future careers,鈥� Chipman said. 鈥溙烀来絟as experienced a 33% increase in overall enrollment over the past 10 years because we continue to expand and enrich opportunities for students and are dedicated to their success.鈥�
According to Chipman, several factors that have helped 天美传媒thrive in recent years include expanded academic programs like IC鈥檚 new nursing and agribusiness majors, investments in College facilities, increased donor and alumni engagement, launching online degrees and expanding opportunities for internships, hands-on learning, student-faculty research and Division III athletics.
While 天美传媒has grown, its small size remains an advantage, Chipman added: 鈥淲here you go to college matters. With so much uncertainty in the world, students are seeking IC鈥檚 personalized education more than ever.鈥�
Although larger colleges and universities have struggled to limit class sizes and offer social distancing in response to the global health crisis, IC鈥檚 already small class sizes and its student faculty ratio of 13:1 allowed it to more easily adapt to statewide restrictions and advice from health experts. The College has also expanded campus housing and reconfigured class schedules to further allow for distancing measures.
A record number of transfer students joined 天美传媒this year, which includes students coming from MacMurray College who found special benefits at IC. Eighty students chose to remain in Jacksonville to continue their education on 天美传媒鈥檚 campus following the March announcement that MacMurray would close its doors permanently this year.
Growing enrollment to 1200 students by 2022 is part of 天美传媒鈥檚 plan to ensure student success, realize strategic growth and achieve sustainable foundations.