Nov 14, 2005
By Gary D. Myers
ATLANTA --New Orleans Baptist Theological
Seminary received a bit of good news when the registrar’s office
conducted an initial enrollment tally. The overwhelming majority of
students from the seminary’s main campus have remained in school
following Hurricane Katrina.
In the immediate aftermath of the devastating storm, NOBTS acted
quickly to meet primary relief needs of students and their
families. Seminary officials also put a great deal of effort into
redesigning courses so students, who were scattered across the
United States, could continue their fall semester.
After their initial displacement needs were met, many students were
able to refocus on their classes –- and seminary officials were
surprised to learn just how many were continuing their
coursework.
The seminary’s preliminary fall enrollment of about 2,500 students
is only about 250 students below last year’s record fall
enrollment. Approximately 250 students withdrew from NOBTS after
the hurricane, many of whom are sitting out a semester or two while
rebuilding their personal lives.
Only 44 students transferred to other institutions. Many of the
students who withdrew, and even some attending other schools, have
expressed interest in returning to NOBTS when the campus
reopens.
Perhaps the most exciting news for seminary administrators is the
number of new student applications NOBTS has received since Sept.
9. The registrar’s office has received 238 new student applications
since Labor Day. While the number is lower than usual for the same
time period, the continued interest in NOBTS is encouraging.
NOBTS Provost Steve Lemke noted, “Fortunately, through our
extension centers and Internet-assisted classes, most of our
students have been able to continue their studies without
interruption and keep on track toward graduation.”
Lemke credited the faculty with much of the student retention. He
said the personal relationship NOBTS professors build with their
students is the only way to account for student loyalty at the
seminary.
“Almost every member of our faculty has extensive experience in
ministry, and this tragedy has brought out their best in
encouraging our students who were hurting,” Lemke said. “Our
faculty is personable and compassionate, and they really connect
with our students. At the same time, few theological faculties have
the technological expertise to redesign this number of courses into
an Internet-assisted format in the midst of a semester. This really
is a testimony to how excellent a faculty we have.”
Lemke said the student contacts made by the dean of students office
following the storm also played a key role in student retention.
Craig Price, dean of students at NOBTS, and his staff contacted 983
of the 1081 main-campus students.
Along with the contacts, the dean of students office served as a
clearing house for student assistance. The office directed
financial assistance to student families in the wake of Katrina and
helped families find local temporary housing throughout the United
States.
According to Price’s office, students fled to 29 states following
the storm, from California to New York and New Jersey, and from
Oregon to Florida. Most of the students stayed in the Southeast.
The largest number of students in any state, 289 to be exact,
remained in Louisiana. Other key displacement states were
Mississippi, 175; Georgia, 124; Alabama, 94; Florida, 77; and
Texas, 67.
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