Enrollment, academic quality and spiritual atmosphere and commitment
remain high at Louisiana College, recent reports indicate.
During their scheduled meeting last week, trustees of the Louisiana
Baptist school in Pineville learned that:
Enrollment this semester fell 4.4 percent from
last fall but still represents the second-highest level in 23 years and the
sixth-highest mark in school history.
Enrollment, academic quality and spiritual atmosphere and commitment
remain high at Louisiana College, recent reports indicate.
During their scheduled meeting last week, trustees of the Louisiana
Baptist school in Pineville learned that:
Enrollment this semester fell 4.4 percent from
last fall but still represents the second-highest level in 23 years and the
sixth-highest mark in school history.
The full-time equivalency totaled 1,076, which includes 1,161
full- and part-time students. While a strong total, the numbers still are lower
than anticipated.
On-campus housing numbers reflect a similar story. Down from
last fall, the total still ranks as the third-highest in history.
Academic quality continues to rise at Louisiana
College. President Rory Lee told trustees that 11 percent of incoming freshmen
this fall were valedictorians or salutatorians of their high school class. The
ACT average for the incoming freshmen class also was up 0.4 percentage points
to 23.1.
Major capital improvements continue at the college,
Lee said. A womens softball field is complete, a new bus for the athletic
department has been purchased and several renovation projects are underway.
The spiritual atmosphere of the college continues
to grow, Lee said. He noted about 60 percent of on-campus students regularly
attend Monday night worship services.
In addition, Louisiana College continues to emphasize Christian
values, Stacy Morgan of Hammond told trustees.
Morgan cited a recent news article about how many schools are
using orientation classes to challenge and change beliefs of students. But he
said a review of Louisiana Colleges approach to orientation shows that
it reinforces deeply-held Christian beliefs, as well as focusing on such practical
matters as honesty and how to study.
In addition to receiving various reports during their meeting,
trustees also took time to praise Lee for his leadership.
Reporting on the annual evaluation of the president, Wayne
Dubose of Minden noted that trustees were “extremely pleased” and
believe that Lee “is serving Louisiana College by divine appointment.”
DuBose commended Lee for another year of “outstanding”
leadership and pledged the trustees “strong support” for what
he said they hope will be many more.
Trustees responded with applause and an affirming “amen.”
In other action, trustees elected officers for the upcoming
year. They are: Chair Joe Nesom, pastor at First Baptist Church of Jackson;
Vice Chair Wayne DuBose, pastor at First Baptist Church of Minden; and Secretary
Bill Ledbetter, a member at First Baptist Church in Bossier City.
Trustees also approved three new faculty members – Gary Mayfield as associate
professor of sociology; Scott Raborn as assistant professor of biology; and
Christy Warren as assistant professor of education. All three are Louisiana
College alumni.