Freshman floodgates

Posted by Clayton Andres on Oct 6, 2011 in News | 0 comments

This year’s freshman class size has increased from last year. While the number is still subject to fluctuation, Trinity Western University has seen an increase of over 45 incoming students, creating an 8.8 percent increase. While this number may not seem too large, with a campus as small as TWU it makes a big difference.

Due to the increased number of students attending this year, the 8/9 wings of Douglas have had to be reopened after being closed indefinitely just one year ago. Even some of the Resident Assistants in Douglas and Northwest, who previously requested to be in single rooms, were warned over the summer that they might have had to acquire roommates in order to make more space in the dorms.

The influx of students, says Brian Kerr, Director of the Undergraduate Admissions Office, is because of TWU’s newest approach to recruitment. In previous years, TWU recruitment teams have marketed the University using its five-year A+ record in the Globe and Mail’s annual University report and its award-riddled athletic program as the primary selling points. But over the past two years, the recruitment crew have been putting more emphasis on TWU’s identity as a Christian Liberal Arts University. “Christian identity is the most important thing,” says Kerr, “ to reconnect with Christian students.” Potential Christian students and their families identify more with TWU because it is Christian Liberal Arts education, rather than because of its academic or athletic merit.

“We have a great admissions team … full of veterans,” stated Kerr. As such, Trinity Admissions has succeeded in attracting students from a much wider range across Canada this past year. Most of the newest students are coming from the greater BC interior, the Okanagan, and Ontario, where TWU has an office set up specifically for admissions. More of the new incoming students have come from across Canada and are in need of residence on-campus. Even students who live in the lower mainland are requesting to live at the University.

“Now, students really want to stay on campus,” says Kerr. There is powerful attraction to the strong elements of community available only to those who stay in residence at TWU.

Clayton Andres