Brock sets enrolment record
With more than 19,000 students walking its hallways this fall, Brock University has set a record for attendance.
The university reported that more than 5,000 new students signed up for class this term, about six per cent more than a year earlier — and the second largest since 2003 when Grade 13 was dropped from Ontario high schools, nearly doubling the number of graduates that year.
But this, the influx of new students — bringing this year’s total enrolment to more than 19,100 students and setting a record for total enrolment — despite a more than one per cent drop this year in the number of high school graduates across Ontario.
The university attributed some of its enrolment increase to international students.
A media release issued Thursday says more than 900 new international students from 68 different countries have confirmed their intentions to come to Brock — a 50 per cent increase over the number of new international students that registered last year.
Brock’s interim provost and vice-president academic Tom Dunk called the record enrolment “a testament to the hard work and skills of our recruitment team at Brock and to our growing reputation for providing a welcoming and inclusive learning environment that offers great programs and courses taught by our engaged and committed faculty.”
“Staff and faculty are dedicated to putting students first and this year’s numbers suggest that the word is getting out,” Dunk said.
“One of the factors is we’ve diversified the countries we’re focusing on with emerging markets such as Africa, Latin America and India,” added James Mandigo, Brock’s vice-provost for enrolment management and international.
“And there has been a huge increase internationally in coming to Canada. It’s the fastest growing market because it’s known as a multicultural country that supports diversity and offers a great education at an affordable price.”