Continuing a 14-year trend of unprecedented growth, North Greenville University welcomed yet again the largest number of students in school history: 2,001 students began classes Aug. 15, 119 more students than a year ago.
Of this number, 673 are new students with 71 being Honors Program scholars – a record number even with the higher entrance requirements. Since 1996, the honors program has grown from 19 to 208 students.
Seventeen international students are calling Tigerville home this semester, along with 30 missionary kids representing 10 different countries. A record 1,406 students are living in campus housing, up 10 percent from last year.
The university also welcomed 91 Palmetto Fellows Scholarship recipients, who represent the best academic students from across South Carolina.
“Admissions has done a tremendous job in recruiting another record number of new students, and I am grateful to all our faculty and staff for a job well done with the overall record enrollment,” said Jimmy Epting, NGU president. “We are thrilled to know that more students will be able to benefit from a quality education in a biblically sound, Christ-centered environment.”
The record number of students were also given a record number of degree choices this fall. For the first time, NGU is offering secondary education degrees. The College of Education’s program proposals for language arts and broadfield science (with biology) were approved by the South Carolina Department of Education. Proposals for secondary education in mathematics and social studies will be submitted to the SCDE next spring.
A new interdisciplinary studies degree with a focus on linguistics is also available to students. According to Victor Prieto, an NGU linguistics and Spanish professor, the program can be the primary or secondary component of the interdisciplinary studies degree.