The Spring semester brings another record enrollment for Brevard College with a 16% increase compared to Spring 2019 numbers. The increase follows record-breaking enrollment for the Fall semester, which stands as the largest student enrollment since Brevard College made the transition to a four-year institution in 1996. During a time when many four-year colleges are seeing a decline in student enrollment, Brevard College continues to have strong enrollment and retention rates.
Brevard College officials attribute the robust enrollment to the efforts of the Admissions team and student retention initiatives such as the Student Success Mentors program, partnerships with athletics, and the college’s dedicated faculty.
“Student Success Mentors are Brevard College employees who are assigned a group of first-year students. Their role is to support the students throughout the first year,” said Debora D’Anna, Vice President for Student Success and Dean for Students. “Success Mentors meet with their students at least once a week during the fall semester and four times a semester in the spring. They give their students a central point of contact for any issues they may have over the course of their first year in college.”
The Experiential Learning Commons Brevard College Athletics and the Experiential Learning Commons (ELC) coordinates an athletic study hall program to support student-athletes both on and off the field. The ELC provides services and resources to support student success and educational experiences.
“The partnership between Athletics and ELC has shown improved grade point averages for student-athletes. They are required to attend weekly study sessions which are monitored by faculty, staff and student learning consultants. It is very structured and requires that each student develop a learning plan for their classes,” said D’Anna.
Brevard College’s outstanding faculty have also been integral to increased student enrollment and retention rates. Last fall, U.S. News and World Report ranked Brevard College No. 2 for Best Undergraduate Teaching among Regional Colleges South. The ranking underscores the faculty and administration’s dedication to high-quality teaching at the undergraduate level and Brevard College’s commitment to experiential liberal arts education and student success.
Brevard College prepares for continued growth and has plans to begin construction on a new residence hall, expand their Experiential Learning Commons, and build and improve Athletics facilities.
“It certainly is an exciting time for Brevard College, and a lot of our excitement is predicated on our growth,” said David C. Joyce, President of Brevard College. “Our record enrollment numbers are setting the stage for the physical growth of our campus, while our excellent retention numbers underscore our commitment to experiential education and the Brevard College mission.”
Brevard College is consistently recognized as one of the best liberal arts colleges. The College’s focus on experiential learning, small class sizes, and location in the mountains of Western North Carolina near Asheville make Brevard a top choice college for students around the world.