Campbell sets new record for undergraduate enrollment

     A total of 1,110 new undergraduate students have enrolled at Campbell University for fall 2006, bringing the total on-campus undergraduate enrollment to 2,843, the highest number ever recorded.
      “This is a new high,” said Herbert Kerner, dean of Admissions, Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs. “I believe it speaks to the effort and work Campbell has put into improving the campus and the school’s standing as an institution of academic excellence and value.”
     Among the reasons for the increase, Kerner cited recent capital projects such as the John W. Pope Convocation Center, a 3,000-5,000 seat cultural and sports facility expected to be completed in 2008, a new Pharmacy teaching facility and Campbell’s inclusion on national lists of outstanding schools including “U.S. News & World Report’s” America’s best colleges and “Princeton Review’s” Best Colleges in the Southeast. He also pointed out Campbell’s continued commitment to Christian values, high moral standards and individual attention.
     New students agree. Stephanie Cunningham, 18, of Fayetteville, N.C., said she knew of Campbell because of Fayetteville’s proximity to the university, but she didn’t know how seriously Campbell would take her application.
     “I’d heard about the pharmacy program, and I want to be a physician so I was anxious to see the science building,” she said. “One of the biology professors, Dr. Larsen, not only showed me the building but answered all of my questions and helped me examine my decision to enroll in the biology program. I had never had anyone show as much interest.”
     Quentin McDougal, of Holly Springs, N.C., had also heard about Campbell’s science program. He wants to be a pharmacist and a good pre-pharmacy program was exactly what he was looking for. An 8th-grade teacher, also a Campbell alumna, steered him to Campbell in addition to his friends and family members.
     “They said it was a great school, but after the first few days I can tell it will be really hard,” McDougal said. “Hopefully, I will be able to memorize all of the tables. I’m really excited about getting started.”
     McDougal has already logged some pharmacy experience working at Eckerd Pharmacy in Holly Springs.
     Founded in 1887, Campbell University is a private, coeducational institution of the liberal arts, sciences and professions offering undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees. The university is comprised of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business, the School of Education, The School of Pharmacy and the Divinity School. The university was ranked in the top tier of “Best Universities in the South” offering masters’ degrees by U.S. News & World Report in its “America’s Best Colleges” 2006 edition and named one of the “100 Best College Buys” in the nation by Institutional Research & Evaluation, Inc.