Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Edward Waters College says its fall 2020 enrollment grew to 968 students, a nearly 4% increase from last year and tied with the highest enrollment at the college in more than 15 years.
“In the midst of this incredibly calamitous pandemic our committed senior administrative and enrollment management team, staff and faculty worked diligently in redoubling their supportive efforts and they, along with our donors and friends, truly provided us with the difference-making support needed for us to experience this extremely positive enrollment outcome for EWC,” EWC President and CEO A. Zachary Faison Jr. said in a news release.
More than 400 new students enrolled at the historically black institution for the fall semester and the college retained 82.6% of its students eligible to return.
In addition, EWC’s new partnership with Follett Higher Education Group provided every first time in college, full-time student with a new laptop computer to increase virtual and distance learning in the COVID-19 environment.
On-campus housing is reduced by 50% to achieve a single-room occupancy.
The college requires students, faculty, staff and visitors to wear face masks at all times while on the campus and the institution follows all CDC guidelines and recommendations with regard to COVID-19 prevention and response protocols.