Largest Class Living on Emory Campus

With the continued increase in enrollment after a record-breaking year in the fall of 2022, staff in the offices of Admissions and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging made the move into new spaces as their historic homes were converted back into residential spaces. The campus set an all-time record for the number of overall enrolled students and an all-time record for the number of residential students. The college has increased its first-year enrollment by 33% since the fall of 2020.

“We are in a very fortunate situation at Emory & Henry, seeing enrollment gains with great interest in our new innovative academic programs by our faculty and our progressive move to D2 and competing in the South Atlantic Conference,” said President John W. Wells. Students come from 32 states and 11 international countries. The number of students from Southwest Virginia has increased by 84 percent. “We may be bursting at the seams, but the energy and enthusiasm are high to welcome new students to Emory & Henry and Southwest Virginia,” Wells said.

Last year, college officials purchased and rented homes in the area to accommodate the growth while announcing plans to break ground on new apartments along College Drive and Hillman Highway to be occupied by fall 2023 (See story on page 2).

More than 450 new students descended on campus in August along with 700 returning upperclass students. More than 900 students resided on the Emory campus this fall, setting a new record, surpassing 858 last year. Overall enrollment on the Emory campus exceeded 1,100 with another 280 graduate students in Marion working on advanced degrees in health sciences and mental health counseling.

Eighty-four percent more Southwest Virginia students attended this fall compared to last fall. Enrollment of students from Virginia increased by eight percent. Transfer students grew by 64 percent from last year with the majority transferring from four-year public and private colleges and the remainder consisting of transfers from local, regional and national community colleges. The incoming class grew in diversity by 30 percent with more Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian or Alaskan Native students enrolled.

Orientation leaders guide new students moving onto campus“Students are eager to take their lives to the next level in academics, athletics, citizenship and creating new relationships at their college of choice,” said Jennifer Pearce, vice president for enrollment and external affairs. “Emory & Henry has much to offer thanks to more than 90 hands-on academic programs, outdoor adventure opportunities and various groups providing engagement and belonging. We continue to serve the Appalachian Highlands through our civic innovation programs and the arts, as well as through internships and employment, while embracing this beautiful region that attracts and amazes students.”

In 2023, Emory & Henry plans to launch multiple new programs in health sciences, nursing, education and business. Those programs include a fast-track master’s degree in education, a master of science in nursing degree and a master of business administration (hybrid/online) degree program.