Westminster College begins the academic year with its ninth year of enrollment growth and the College’s largest recorded student population. According to the Office of Enrollment Services, Westminster expects to start the fall 2008 semester with between 970-980 students. This represents a steadily increasing enrollment of 32 percent over a nine-year period.
“We are fortunate that we have been the college of choice for so many young women and men,” says George Wolf, Vice President and Dean of Enrollment Services.
The new incoming class represents a 13 percent increase over the fall 2008 class.
Westminster students come from over 20 states and 65 different countries. Almost 13 percent of the student body is international.
“At present, the College is managing toward limited enrollment growth to ensure the school does not outpace its ability to maintain the educational and student service quality that Westminster is known for,” Wolf says.
Westminster is committed to continuing its enrollment growth to reach 1,050 total students within the next two years.
“Our enrollment strength allows us to continue to move Westminster College toward our strategic goal of making it the premier private college of choice for a highest quality undergraduate education in this part of the country,” says Wolf.
He says enrollment increases made since 2000 have made Westminster one of the fastest-growing private colleges in Missouri and in the Midwest region of the country, and have supported a number of institutional enhancements through that period.
Forbes magazine just listed Westminster as 39th in its list of the Top Fifty America's Best Colleges for 2008—the only Missouri college or university to join elite educational institutions such as Princeton, Harvard, Amherst and Stanford on this list. The America’s Best Colleges 2008 report is based on student evaluations of classes and professors, affordability and success of graduates.
The Westminster Freshman experience has been enhanced with a wonderful new addition anchoring the north end of The Quad. The new North Hall freshman dorm stands where Robertson Dining Hall was located previously. The brand new state-of-the art dining facility Mueller Leadership Hall opened last year to replace Robertson.
North Hall joins Scott, Gage, Rice and Marquess Halls on The Quad, making it possible to house 270 freshmen together. Because The Quad is considered a quintessential part of the Westminster freshman experience, college officials are glad that North Hall will allow all freshmen to live together once again.
The new hall features nine new living suites with 70 beds, a spacious laundry room and a central commons area, and a large outdoor courtyard where all freshmen living on The Quad can congregate.
New students will arrive August 22 and classes at Westminster will begin August 27.
“We look forward to another banner year at Westminster with this outstanding student body that we will be welcoming into our community,” says Dr. George B. Forsythe, President of Westminster. “We take our mission seriously of developing leaders of character in a global community. Those young people who leave here will be ready for a lifetime of learning and service, ready to make a difference wherever they find themselves.”