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Southern Adventist University has experienced record growth in recent years, fostering new opportunities for students and expanding their experiences and avenues for success. The largest freshman class in the university’s history enrolled in 2023, and, this year, Southern is hosting its largest undergraduate student body ever, totaling 2,929 students.

Young adults continue to flock to campus, and the current freshman class is the second-highest count to date, with 703 students. In addition, 100 transfer students brought the new-student total up to a substantial 803.

“Our reputation of excellent faculty, robust academic programs, and a vibrant Christian environment has attracted students from far and near,” shares President Ken Shaw. “We are excited to see so many desiring to grow academically and spiritually, and we know God will use them in His service.”

In response to climbing numbers, Southern has created additional vespers options and is also expanding housing on campus. Two Friday evening worship services now help keep the most well-attended spiritual event personal for students, and a new student housing division called Southern Mountain Cottages is under development and set to be completed in December. Marty Hamilton, senior vice president for Financial Administration, says, “These efforts reflect our passion to find creative solutions for our students and still give them easy access to the overall campus experience.”

Several departments have also experienced unprecedented growth in conjunction with the school’s high enrollment. Keith Snyder, chair of the Biology and Allied Health Department, shares how his academic programs gained 122 freshmen this year, compared to an average of 95, bringing the total number of students to 375.

In response to the growth, the department added a night lab for General Biology and another lab for Anatomy and Physiology in order to continue providing individualized learning. Free tutoring is available to all students in the evenings when professors’ offices are closed, and online resources in textbooks also help students navigate the more challenging classes.

Another area seeing substantial growth is the engineering program. Southern introduced a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree with emphases in mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering in Fall 2023, and student interest has exceeded expectations. Currently, 88 engineering students are pursuing these four-year degrees, more than doubling initial projections for this year. The program added several professors and class sections to meet the high demand.

“It’s super cool to see the growth in classes that only had two or three students but now have 20-plus,” says Caleb Mohns, senior engineering major who transferred into the program last August. “I’m definitely getting the tools and mentorship needed to succeed. Professors have done a great job bringing people in from the community to speak to us about their experiences entering the field.”

Tyson Hall, dean of the School of Engineering and Physics, believes that the engineering program perfectly matches the university’s mission to equip students to pursue spirit-filled lives of service. “Our motto in the program is ‘think, design, serve,’ and that focus on helping others really sets us apart from other engineering programs,” he says.

Southern celebrates numbers but, more importantly, remains committed to ensuring a transformative experience for each student enrolled. Vice President for Enrollment Management Jason Merryman shares, “Our university leadership continually submits our plans to the Lord and asks Him to bless and lead us in the ways He wants us to go. We give Him all the glory for each and every success here at Southern.”

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