Southeastern Seminary sets enrollment record

by   Lee Weeks                                                                                                                                             Vol. XII, No. 4, April 1999 

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary has established a record enrollment for the third consecutive year. The school's fall 1998 total enrollment at the Wake Forest, NC, campus and off-campus extension centers increased by 6.4% over last year. With 1,590 students enrolled for the fall semester, Southeastern eclipsed its record set last fall of 1,495 students.

Paige Patterson, president of Southeastern and the Southern Baptist Convention, said he was especially grateful to God for the enrollment increase "even in a year when we did not have adequate housing."

Southeastern is currently in the midst of a student-housing boom as more than 300 family housing units are in various stages of construction. A 120-unit complex is currently opening in several phases with final completion scheduled for March. Construction on all of the student-family housing projects is scheduled to be completed by August. "Now that housing isn't an issue," Patterson continued, " the sky is the limit."

Southeastern has already begun reaping the results of increased student housing. On-campus enrollment increased this fall by 13 percent due in-large-part to the opening of a new 74-unit apartment complex.

Southeastern's college program netted the largest growth with a 34 percent increase. Enrollment grew from 257 students in fall 1997 to 345 students in fall 1998. Established in January 1995 as a two-year college, Southeastern Baptist Theological College began with 26 students. The college was expanded this fall from an upper-level baccalaureate program to a four-year bachelor of arts program. In addition to a biblical studies major, the college also offers a double major in "The History of Ideas," which focuses on the "Great Books of the Western World."

Southeastern's faculty continues to grow to meet the demands brought on by the flourishing enrollment. Five new seminary professors and a college professor joined the faculty in the fall, bringing the total number to 61 full and part-time positions.