FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — This fall, Fresno Pacific University saw overall growth when it comes to enrollment.<\/p>\n
“The word I think, around campus, is ‘momentum.'” FPU President Andr\u00e9 Stephens, Ph. D. said.<\/p>\n
Stephens says the university exceeded goals in every population with more than 1,000 new students.<\/p>\n
“Another year out of COVID, and we’re seeing students really valuing higher education, and so it’s exciting for us,” Stephens said.<\/p>\n
Undergraduate enrollment increased 3.9% compared to last year.<\/p>\n
Graduate program enrollment increased 1.9% compared to last year, bringing the total enrollment to just over 1,000 graduate students.<\/p>\n
That’s the largest in school history.<\/p>\n
Enrollment for degree completion students, or those who transferred, remained flat compared to last year.<\/p>\n
However, the total number of units those students are taking has increased 10%.<\/p>\n
“Those units that they’re taking, more units that they’re taking, are because we have created a curriculum that works for students,” Stephens said.<\/p>\n
In general, President Stephens believes opportunities for students and campus upgrades are helping to attract learners.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, FPU received a private donation to revitalize old classrooms with new carpet, furniture, and large whiteboards.<\/p>\n
The school also received the largest gift in its history, $21 million from the King Richter Estate, to create endowed scholarships.<\/p>\n
“So those are the things that, in addition to another year out of COVID, that it’s just really helping to make the campus attractive,” Stephens said.<\/p>\n
In the spring, the university will launch an RN to BSN program as well as a minor in forensics.<\/p>\n
President Stephens says he hopes to increase enrollment as the years go on, but more importantly, he says he hopes students leave the university better than they arrived.<\/p>\n
“Super important to me that they’re not just getting an intellectual, a degree that’s just for their mind, but for us as a private Christian institution, for their heart — that we want to see their hearts transform,” Stephens said.<\/p>\n
President Stephens says they are currently working on a long-term master plan.<\/p>\n
Over the next 5 to 10 years, you can expect to see more academic programs, renovated buildings and a renovated campus.<\/p>\n
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