By Christina Miller, student news writer, and Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — For the 17th consecutive semester, Campbellsville University has achieved record enrollment with 2,601 students, according to an announcement by Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of CU.
Beginning his tenth year as president of Campbellsville University, Dr. Michael V. Carter said the increase in enrollment is due to the hard work of the faculty, staff and coaches at CU, and is also due to the atmosphere at CU.
“Students come to CU to ‘find their calling,’” Carter said. “We have 43 academic programs from which students can study, and we also have 15 master’s programs including a new master of social work. We also have a new family studies major and a homeland security minor. We also have rank I and endorsement in gifted and talented education.
“We are expanding our offerings to respond to student needs and wants. The students are why we exist. We want to serve their needs,” he said.
Carter said Campbellsville University is working with the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education in their “Double the Numbers” campaign that is a plan to double the number of college graduates in Kentucky by 2020. Launched by the Council on Oct. 17, 2007, the Double the Numbers Plan outlines five statewide strategies for Kentucky to double the number of bachelor’s degree holders in the state by 2020. As the plan explains, increasing bachelor’s degrees is the quickest, most direct way for Kentucky to increase its economic prosperity.
CU’s 15 master’s programs include: master of arts in education, master of arts in special education, master of arts in music, master of arts in social sciences, master of business administration, master of science in counseling, master of music in church music, master of music in music education, master of teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), master of theology, master of social work, master of music in musicology, master of music in conducting, master of music in piano pedagogy and master of music in performance, plus rank I and endorsement in gifted and talented education, endorsement in English as a Second Language and director of special education certification.
Campbellsville is offering some courses online to also better service students. Online undergraduate courses are offered in history, theology, social work, business, early childhood education, special education and sociology. Master’s courses offered online include: special education, business administration, social work, counseling, theology, teaching English to speakers of other languages and education.
“Everything we do is with the student in mind,” Carter said. “We broke ground on a new School of Education building in August that will help our education students have the space and equipment needed to further their education.
“We are also breaking ground soon on a new School of Business and Economics building across from CVS Pharmacy. The School of Business and Economics is one of our largest majors, and we want them to have a great learning experience in a new building,” Carter said.
Carter said the new Gosser Gymnasium has allowed the wrestling program to have a home, as well as providing for other uses, and the gym has a walking track for the CU family to use to help with wellness programs.
“The campus also has never looked more beautiful,” Carter said. Flowers, trees and shrubs have been planted across campus to make the physical areas more attractive.
During the summer, other new campus improvements were done including painting and other changes in the residence halls.
“As we enter our second century of Christian higher education, we are dedicated to making Campbellsville University the education of choice for students who want a quality, Christian education.
“There is no better time in the history of mankind than now for Christian higher education. Campbellsville University wants to be that provider for Kentucky students and beyond,” he said.
Dave Walters, vice president for admissions and student services, said the fall 2007 registration census head count totaled 2,405 students enrolled at Campbellsville University.
Walters said, “The number of new students, transfers, graduates and the retention rate are all up compared to the past year.”
This year’s first-time, full-time freshmen class enrollment totals a record 448 students, compared to last year’s enrollment of 374 freshmen.
There have been 176 students who have transferred to Campbellsville University this year.
Campbellsville University’s undergraduate enrollment totals 2,239, while only two years ago, in 2006, the total undergraduate enrollment totaled 1,988 students.
Graduate enrollment now totals 362 students.
The latest census also concludes Campbellsville University students come from 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Campbellsville University has enrolled 213 international students this year.
Dr. Frank Cheatham, vice president for academic affairs at Campbellsville University, said, “The ESL program puts a lot of hard work into providing the international students with an abundance of support and activities.”
Campbellsville University partners with organizing agencies which allow for worldwide recruitment, according to Cheatham. He said the agencies help spread the word about the institution in Asian countries and Brazil.
He said, “I have seen the lowest enrollment Campbellsville University has ever had at only 70 students and now I am blessed to see the possibly highest head count ever in the history of the institution at 2,601.”
Cheatham is a 1965 alumnus of CU and has been employed at CU since 1973.
For more information about enrolling at Campbellsville University, contact the Office of Admissions at (270) 789-5220 or 1-800-264-6014 or admissions@campbellsville.edu.
Campbellsville University is a private, comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,601 students who represent 93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World Report’s 2009 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82 miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his tenth year as president.