Darton announces record enrollment of 6,405 students
Terry Lewis
ALBANY, Ga. — Darton State College has announced a record enrollment of 6,405 students for Fall 2012 — a five percent increase over last fall’s previous record of 6,097 students.
Darton’s early projections predicted a decline in enrollment of 400 to 500 students due to more selective admissions criteria. In an effort to counteract this decline, college faculty and staff collaborated to devise and implement strategies, which included broadening outreach and providing individualized support for current and potential students.
Not only did these initiatives compensate for the decline, but they proved to be successful enough to create record enrollment.
“The growth of our college is very exciting. It is a testament to both the quality of our programs and, most importantly, the dedication of our faculty and staff,” said Gary Barnette, Darton State College vice president. “Because of their efforts, I believe Darton’s potential for future growth is limitless.”
This year’s fall enrollment is the largest in the school’s history, and includes students from across the street and around the world. For the past few years, the school has been able to attract students locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.
More than 400 Darton students reside on campus in the College’s residence halls, which are currently at capacity.
During fiscal year 2011, Darton had an economic impact of more than $119 million on the region. Darton offers a variety of programs, including a new bachelor’s degree in nursing, 87 associate degrees, 36 certificate programs, and more than 40 online programs.