Enrollment Up at 4, Down at 2 Seminaries

by Cameron Crabtree                                                                                                                                 Vol. IX, No. 1, January 1996

Southern Baptist seminaries officially compare fall-to-fall enrollment figures in late October based on the "non-duplicating headcount" of students enrolled in pre-baccalaureate programs, basic degree programs, and classes for academic credit. Total enrollment at the six SBC seminaries is down just slightly, from 9,190 students in fall 1994 to 9,177 students this fall. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, with 1,098 students enrolled this fall, posted an 18.7 percent gain over the previous fall enrollment of 925 students. "We are both pleasantly surprised and infinitely grateful for God's blessing upon the seminary," said Southeastern President Paige Patterson. "God help us to be good stewards of his largess."

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO, with 494 students enrolled, rose 16.5 percent over the previous fall enrollment of 424 students. "We're surprised and delighted at enrollment gains in this period of transition," said Midwestern President Mark Coppenger. "We look forward to more as the word gets out on Midwestern's course for the future."

Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, CA, with 1,142 students enrolled, saw an 11.2 percent increase over the previous fall enrollment of 1,027 students. "Our mission to help shape effective Christian leaders for the churches of tomorrow continues to attract high-calibre men and women who sense God's call for spiritual leadership in his kingdom," said Golden Gate President William O. Crews. "With all of the options available for quality theological training, we are delighted that an increasing number of students entrust Southern Baptists' seminary in the West with their education."

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, with 1,796 students enrolled, improved by 6 percent over the previous fall figure of 1,692 students. The fall 1994 enrollment figure does not include term 2 registration. "We are grateful for our continued strong enrollment increase for the first semester," said Landrum Leavell II, interim president at New Orleans Seminary. "This reflects our ongoing emphasis on quality theological education in the finest setting for Christian ministry to be found anywhere. We thank God for his continued blessing on this seminary."

The two largest SBC seminaries reported declines in enrollment this fall. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY, with 1,621 students enrolled this fall, saw a 13 percent drop from the previous fall's count of 1,868 students. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX, with 3,026 students enrolled, had a 7 percent drop in enrollment from the previous fall's 3,254 students. "The fact that Southwestern has been able to maintain a strong enrollment figure in a transition time is a very healthy sign," said Southwestern President Ken Hemphill. "The healing process is well under way, and you can see the enthusiasm in class, chapel, and around the campus."

Thousands of other students at the seminaries are included in a "total cumulative headcount" report of enrollment in non-credit courses, such as continuing education programs, student spouse programs, sports and recreation programs, and students who audit various seminary courses. [BP]