GC Featured in Story about National Trend in Christian College Enrollment Growth

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GREENVILLE, ILL. - Greenville College made its second official appearance on NBC's TODAY Show Thursday, December 21, during the 7:30 a.m. half hour. TODAY featured GC in a story about enrollment growth at Christian colleges across the nation. In 1992 Greenville College welcomed TODAY's Willard Scott to campus in celebration of the college's 100^th year.

Shooting for the recent story took place in mid-November when Greenville College hosted the TODAY Show crew, composed of Producer Bethany Thomas, NBC Correspondent Don Teague, and a St. Louis-based film crew. TODAY interviewed a prospective student, Rachel Dothager of Swansea, IL, and her parents, Doug and Cathy; two current students, Keegan Sidhu of Rome, NY and Matthew Williams of Chicago, IL; Dr. Eugene Dunkley, GC assistant professor of Biology; and GC Director of Admissions Michael Ritter. They also shot background footage of campus, student life, classroom interaction, music studios, a theatre performance lead by student director Matthew Williams, a junior Management/Communication: Theatre double major, and a music concert with Keegan John (Sidhu), a senior Music Business major.

"We are blessed to have received the attention of TODAY. We had a great experience with their crew here and the producer in New York," states Robyn Florian, director of College Relations and Marketing at Greenville. "In the midst of a tight shooting schedule, Bethany and Don took time during their visit to meet with our Broadcast Journalism class and talk with other students and staff about their work with NBC."

The story was originally pitched to TODAY by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), of which Greenville is one of 105 member schools. The CCCU, led by President Paul Corts, references several factors that contributed to this recent growth among Christian colleges. "There is a great demand for institutions with a clear purpose and track record in addressing the needs of mind, body, and spirit. The recent Spirituality in Higher Education Report by the Higher Education Research Institute clearly identifies the importance of campuses helping students explore their hunger for spiritual things."

Michael Ritter, GC director of Admissions, attributes this national trend to the current college-bound generation's desire to stay closer to home and more connected with their family, community and, essentially, their roots. "Students want to find a college that's not just geographically closer, but also closer in terms of values," said Ritter. "I also think more people realize you don't have to sacrifice academic quality to attend a Christian college, and I think that is one of the big reasons that we are growing."

In recognition of this trend for students to stay closer to home, the GC Admissions Office now focuses their recruiting resources on a 100-200 mile radius of Greenville. In addition, two of six Admissions counselors attend to the specific needs of transfer students.

This year the college's fall traditional undergraduate enrollment topped 1,000 students for the first time in the school's history, including 410 new students (freshmen and transfers). Last fall the number of new students totaled 367. In order to accommodate the growing enrollment the college broke ground this fall on a new dormitory to house 101 students in the fall of 2007.

Greenville College is a four-year accredited Christian liberal arts school with more than 1450 traditional undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree completion students. Founded in 1892 and affiliated with the Free Methodist Church, the college is located in Greenville, Illinois, 45 miles east of St. Louis.

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