Gospel Rush: Olivet Anticipates Peak Levels of New and Returning Students

August 10, 2005

Olivet University will welcome record numbers of first-year students to its campus community this fall. "We are delighted that so many students are interested in pursuing offline educational opportunities at Olivet this year," said Tracy J. McNeal, Director of Academic Affairs.

Enrollment figures for online classes also swelled in 2005, following steady increases over the past several years.

"The excellence of the applicant pool was unprecedented," added McNeal. "The Admissions Committee was faced with the difficult task of choosing the Class of 2009 from among a large number of very well qualified candidates."

Early last year, administrators began exploring a variety of methods to inform prospective students about the new developments at Olivet University – including its new and refurbished academic facilities, expanded living spaces, and the continuing attractions of San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area.

Together with its regular recruitment efforts, Olivet decided to increase faculty involvement and garner the personal efforts of alumni and alumnae with recruitment. "The combination produced impressive results," continued McNeal.

Alongside these developments, this year Olivet University launches a special leadership initiative among its first-year and returning students. The initiative connects students with ministry leaders and Christian scholars from all over the world through a serious of presentations by Olivet University faculty members and international visitors, large and small group discussions, daily worship services, and field trips to sponsoring Christian organizations.

The gathering is designed to cultivate student interest in global trends in Christian ministry. Olivet also hopes the event will foster lasting intergenerational connections among future and current Christians leaders. "This initiative fits perfectly with the mission and long-term direction of Olivet University," commented Walker Tzeng, Chaplain of Olivet University. The inaugural assembly will coincide with this year's opening convocation, scheduled for Tuesday, August 30. An evening of worship and fellowship in the University Chapel will follow the day's exercises.

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