Volume 80, Issue 22 Web Edition
SERVING BREVARD COLLEGE SINCE 1935
Hey Seniors,
See page 2 for Grad
Fair Information!
March 11, 2015
Record spring enrollment SETC
By Jordan Laws
staff Writer
BC has seen a record enrollment of653 students
in spring 2015 that has increased by 12 students
overall since spring 2014.
A 12 student increase doesn’t seem like a
miraculous number but 653 is a number worth
remembering. For perspective, in 2005—ten
years ago—the total spring student enrollment
was 506. This means student enrollment in the
spring semester has gradually increased by 147
students over a decade. This is impressive and has
required BC to renovate buildings, construct new
buildings, and make living space available off-
campus because all beds on campus are occupied.
“What we want to see is consistent enrollment
growth in both new and returning students,” said
Vice President of Admissions and Financial Aid,
Chad Holt. “The spring enrollment trajectory is
definitely going up at a steady pace and that’s
what we want. We don’t want an influx of 2,000
students that causes us to lose sight of who we
are. We want student enrollment to grow but we
want it to be sustained.”
If more students enroll on a gradual basis this
will require BC to build or acquire new residential
space which is an expensive process. Will tuition
prices become inflated to pay the bill?
“It is unlikely that this will affect tuition costs
and it won’t affect the quality of the academics
either.” Holt continued.
Since there is a steady growth of enrolling
students the question of accommodation comes
to mind. Do we have places for these new and
continuing students to live? Do we need more
room or more housing? Is BC doing anything in
this regard?
“Last year we added Holly Cottage in town, and
for fall ’ 16 the plan is to build a new residence
hall to not only improve facilities for returning
students, but to add room for new students.”
Holt said. “I’ve been here 3 years and we’ve
spent $250,000 renovating Beam, Jones, and
the Cafeteria in that time; we have also decided
to open the coffee shop and started planning the
new residence hall. We are making great strides,
but we still have a long way to go.”
It definitely seems that people are getting word
of BC’s tantalizing offers of small class sizes,
knowledgeable professors, experiential education,
and outdoor activities.
“We’ve really seen an increase in transfer and
local students. We want the local community to
know who we are and at least put us on their list;
at least take a look at us and not rule us out.” Holt
said. “If BC is right for them we want to help them
with admission, tuition, scheduling classes and
meeting professors. Locals are starting to take
a look at us and feel that BC is heading in the
right direction under the leadership of President
Dr. Joyce.”
There are certainly incentives for local students
to attend BC; anywhere from the Half off Tuition
Scholarship to discounts at most stores in Brevard.
“The optimum amount of total students is 1,000
for Brevard to have good finances, great faculty,
and good facilities. Again, we don’t want to get
there overnight because we want to allow room
for growth, both in enrollment and physical
space.” Holt said about the ideal conditions for
enrollment.
Enrollment and retention rates are improving
for BC and that’s never a bad thing. It is evident
that BC is evolving, improving, and impressing
prospective students. Ideally, the enrollment and
retention rates will continue to gradually improve.
BC offers an active education and autonomy; who
doesn’t want that?
Fall 2015 Registration is approaching!
Remember to eheck with your advisor about preregistration for
the fall semester, whieh begins Mareh 23. More instruetions about
preregistration, including the day on which you can sign up for classes
and how to view the fall course schedule, were emailed to students on
Monday—simply search for “registrar” in your Brevard College email.
Keep in mind, you cannot enter the housing lottery on April 9 unless
you have pregistered for fall classes.
or bust
Students attend
Southeastern Theatre
Conference
By Alex Webster
Arts & Life Editor
Over spring break a select group of theatre stu
dents, along with their professors, travelled to the
medium-sized town of Chattanooga, Tennessee
for an extended weekend of learning, interview
ing, and recruiting.
Eight Brevard College Theatre students spent
over half of their spring break bragging on them
selves to potential employers, attending riveting
workshops taught by faculty and professionals in
the business, and engaging in activities centered
on theatre.
Karen Bennett, Raquan Edwards, Josh Gold
stein, Hannah Leonard, Joshua Runkles, Kaylee
Smith, Logan Taylor, and Alex Webster all attend
ed the conference. They had many opportunities
to showcase their talents to big-name companies
such as Hershey Park and Disney, along with
reputable regional theatres and playhouses across
the country.
All the students enjoyed the opportunities at the
conference and are hearing back from potential
employers in many fields such as lighting, sound,
general tech, administration, marketing, and stage
management.
Brandon Smith and Andrea Boccanfuso led the
trip, and also recruited high school actors and
technicians. The high school students auditioned
and some were called back for interviews, where
they met with Professor Smith, and BC students
for more information.
The Friends of Fine Arts (FOFA) generously
funded the event, and that is something that the
students are grateful for. Brevard is one of the few
schools to assist students with travelling costs, and
FOFA is a large part of this assistance.
Students await responses from potential com
panies for job opportunities. They will be hearing
back in the next few weeks regarding summer and
long term work.