Office of Enrollment Management

Recruitment and admissions personnel are often asked: “What are the numbers looking like?”

And, why not? Schools want to know 1) what the incoming class is like; 2) where our students are coming from; 3) how we are faring compared to last year; 4) whether we expect more students from other denominations; and 5) will we have to create more sections? I’m happy to report that the answers to these questions for this enrollment season are hopeful and encouraging!

When the spring 2019 enrollment brief was provided to the Executive Board at the March meeting, I shared photos of our spring Houston-Galveston incoming class of 18 new students (one student enrolled for January term) along with a photo of the Dallas group of eight students.

In response to the photos, Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey (M.Div. ’99) of the Louisiana Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church, said, “This report shows that people are still being called into ministry.”

Amen to that, especially after the General Conference Session in February of the United Methodist Church. And having returned from a meeting of graduate admissions and financial aid personnel this week, who reported declines of enrollment over the past couple of years, this was welcome news.

And so, we are thankful for the Houston-Galveston-Extension program, now offering the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Ministry programs via the hybrid format, where we’ve experienced rapid growth for two successive semesters. It’s clearly meeting a need while helping maintain our overall enrollment growth.

So, here’s what the numbers are looking like for Perkins:

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• Fall 2016-Fall 2017 increase of 36.8%
• Fall 2017-Fall 2018 increase of 14.1%
• 2016-2018 increase of 101.8%

These are challenging times, nonetheless. May I offer my statement of confidence to you about our Enrollment Management Team. They are doing their best to continue the success of increased enrollment for the last two fall terms. We ask for your prayers and for your nominations of prospective students. (In particular, check out our April travel schedule (below) and let us know if you have any contacts at these destinations that we may call on when we visit.)

Thanks for all you do to spread the good word about Perkins!

Peace and grace,

Margot

Rev. Dr. Margot Perez-Greene
Associate Dean of Enrollment Management

 

“I am loving my classes, and I’m so happy that I got to meet the students face-to-face that I would be studying with. The professors are amazing, and I don’t even have to move…thank everyone!”

 —  Incoming Houston-Galveston student

 

Recruitment Travel for the Month of April 2019

Office of Enrollment Management

Our Ministry Discernment Associates, John Lowery and Caleb Palmer, will be traveling this month to gatherings and universities to meet prospective students and get the word out about Perkins School of Theology. If you know of a prospective student, or have a contact (faculty, alums, other stakeholders) at one or more of these destinations, please contact John or Caleb. Your support is greatly appreciated.

John Lowery
jclowery@smu.edu

April 1: Bethune Cookman University, Daytona Beach, FL

April 3: Baylor University, Waco, TX

 

 

 

Caleb Palmer
calebp@smu.edu

April 2-5: Black Methodists for Church Renewal, Atlanta, GA

April 3: University of Georgia, Wesley Foundation, Athens, GA

April 16: Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX

April 26-28: Alliance of Baptists Annual Meeting, Washington, DC