McMurry University on Friday announced a 7.3% increase in fall term enrollment, with 1,245 students taking classes.
It’s the largest enrollment at the south Abilene university since fall 2012.
The freshman class totals 277 students, slightly less than in 2021, but still is the second largest over the past six years.
McMurry officials were delighted because this fall launches activities planned for its centennial year. McMurry was founded in 1923.
“McMurry is ready for an incredible year,” university President Dr. Sandra S. Harper said. “Despite the hardships we endured through the pandemic, our university remains a valued place of higher education. With all our new campus projects and Centennial events, we are excited to have a full student body to share in the celebrations.”
New majors are credited with enrollment success, as well as emphasis on STEM degrees and interest in nursing careers. McMurry’s Dual Credit Academy, and online classes in cybersecurity, business and criminal justice have helped, too, according to a news release.
The Community Commitment program promises that at least 50% of a student’s tuition will be covered by McMurry if the student or family member works in a service-base career is another selling point for McMurry, officials stated.
Hardin-Simmons late Friday reported a fall enrollment of 1,765. Of those, 428 are new students, with 13% finishing in the top 10% of their high school classes and 37% in the top 25%. Their ACT and SAT test scores were higher than the new class in 2021.
HSU’s Hispanic enrollment grew from 22% to 24%, leaving the university a percentage point away from being named a Hispanic Serving Institution.
A total of 795 students will live on campus this fall.
While McMurry is celebrating 100 years, HSU in 2023 will launch a mechanical engineering program.
Abilene Christian University is expected to announce its fall enrollment numbers Wednesday, waiting until the completion of 12 days of classes. However, at its opening assembly, campus and online enrollment was announced at a record 5,900, with a freshman class totaling more than 1,000 students.
Chef Kaylee Mills of City Light Culinary Academy is recruiting students for the next class, which tentatively is scheduled for January.
There were not enough students for a fall class.
Interviews for the next class starting Jan. 16 will be in October and/or November.
The program is or those who are unemployed but seeking life skills training and the culinary training needed to work in the restaurant industry.
The academy goes for 12 weeks and is tuition free. Student services provided to better ensure student success inthe program include obtaining identification, birth certificates, Social Security cards, bus passes, utility assistance, gas vouchers, and proper work shoes and uniforms.
Call Mills , who is director of operations and chef trainer, at 325-673-6686.
Tarleton State University has announced its fall theater schedule.
The 2022-23 season begins quickly with “Murder on the Orient Express,” the popular Agatha Christie murder mystery, set for a Sept. 20-24 run.
Following are:
Plays are in Clyde H. Wells Performing Arts Center on campus. For information, call 254-968-9291.
The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced a grant of almost $293,000 to be used for infrastructure at the Nuclear Energey eXperimental Testing Lab at Abilene Christian University.
Funding through the Nuclear Energy University Program was awarded to ACU for the second consecutive year.
ACU’s is one of 20 university-led projects that is receiving more than $5.2 million. ACU was one of eight institutions awarded funding for infrastructure. The only other private school awarded was MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
The funding for ACU will expand the radioactive materials characterization capability of what is more commonly called its NEXT Lab. It will provided instrumentation needed to move chemistry operations to new facilities – the Advanced Research Center and Dillard Science and Engineering Research. Target date for those facilities to open is late summer 2023.
