Maryville College celebrating high applications, strong 2021
Dec. 10, 2021
As the fall semester ends at Maryville College, administrators are celebrating a successful 2021 and evidence of growing momentum for numerous new initiatives across the campus.
Dr. Bryan Coker, the College’s president, sent a memo to faculty and staff today, expressing optimism that, despite the challenges of an 18-month pandemic, the College could conclude the semester “with genuine excitement about the College’s future.”
In the memo, Coker shared news that applications for fall 2022 enrollment are up, as are visits by prospective students and their families.
“I am very pleased to share that admissions applications and enrollment deposits from new first-year students have increased this year, with applications up 19 percent, and deposits up 46 percent over this date last year,” he said. “These are the highest admissions numbers we have seen in over five years, and we are also experiencing above-average attendance at Meet Maryville events and campus tours. We are cautiously optimistic that, with the help of our campus community, we can exceed our recruitment goals for Fall 2022.”
In the memo, Coker attributed the momentum to strategies put in place to grow enrollment, including a new $20,000 “Scots Legacy Award” aimed at increasing the number of students living on campus; new and revised academic offerings; the planned additions of co-curricular programs like track and field, as well as pep/marching band; and capital improvements to buildings and grounds. He also cited the College’s recent efforts to hone its brand and identity as a college “of and for the region,” which included the unveiling of a new logo system.
“And of course, the real credit goes to our Admissions and Athletics staff members who work each day to authentically connect with prospective students and their families,” he added.
Fundraising strong
Referencing announcements in recent weeks of donor-funded renovations to Cooper Athletic Center and major gifts to fund new environmental and sustainability initiatives, the president reported in the memo that fundraising was moving in a positive direction, as well.
“As we conclude 2021, philanthropic giving to the College is strong – so far in FY22, we have seen an increase in President’s Circle members (donors of $1,000 or more), and of our existing President’s Circle members, more than 40 percent have increased their giving over last year,” he wrote in the memo, adding that with a nationally ranked men’s basketball team and associated exposure from RT Lodge’s growing national reputation, the College was seeing “wins” in many different areas of campus.
“Thank you all for your respective roles in this positive momentum we are experiencing, and please know how much we appreciate your efforts to help us continue and truly realize this momentum, as we collectively endeavor to ‘future-proof’ the College for generations to come,” Coker wrote to employees.