August 5, 2005
Enrollment of freshmen students is up nearly 25 percent over last year, reports Marty Ziesemer, dean of enrollment management.
“We are to the point of turning away students for the fall semester,” Ziesemer said. “Our transfer student population also is running ahead.”
At latest count, 206 frosh are set to arrive the last weekend in August for the Fall 2005 semester. That’s up from 165 freshmen last year, and up from the previous record of 167, in 2003.
Corban being on the U.S. News and World Report’s list of the nation’s top 10 colleges of its size and the perception that “we are a college on the move” are reasons for the increase, said President Reno Hoff. The school’s well-rounded athletic program, new dorm and worship center and even its new name also contributed, the president added.
Plans are in the offing for another residence hall to accommodate the growing Christian campus. Davidson Hall opened last fall. Farrar Hall received new carpeting and electrical wiring this summer.
Three other buildings were remodeled this summer: the dining hall was expanded, the Pavilion was gutted and restored, and the fourth and fifth floors of Academic Towers received extensive remodeling for additional classrooms.
“We are a college dedicated to academic excellence grounded in biblical truth,” said Bryce Bernard, vice president of academics. “The growth in students this year is a tremendous blessing. Our admissions staff and freshmen seminar faculty have done a great job of assisting these new students and their families in making the transition to Corban College.”
All indications are that enrollment will continue to increase in future years, Ziesemer said.
“By us changing our name to the more evangelical Corban, we should increase our inquiry-to-applicant ratio two to three percentage points, and see more growth,” Ziesemer said. “We’re educating our students to make a difference in the world. With more students, we’ll have more students making a difference. That’s what I get excited about.”
-- By Karen L. Willoughby | 
