MURFREESBORO – A population boom has struck Murfreesboro.

Hoards of new students have descended upon Chowan College, giving the institution its largest new student enrollment in over 10 years.

Over 400 freshmen and transfer students registered for classes before the August 31 deadline.

College officials were overwhelmed with the response to this year's revised marketing and recruiting program as residence halls filled beyond capacity. It took several days for Student Life personnel to get everyone placed.

The 400 new students surpassed last year's enrollment by about 115. Total registration for the semester, including upper class members, is over 800 students. About 200 faculty and staff members swell the college community numbers to over 1,000.

Jonathan Wirt, Vice President for Enrollment, said, "We are thrilled with the overwhelming success of this year's recruiting efforts. The new class is about 30 percent larger than last fall's entering class."

He continued, "Of course we realize that a few of these students in the normal course of events will withdraw as home sickness, financial concerns and other personal matters take their toll. But to start out the year with this record number of students is an exciting experience and we look forward to an even larger enrollment next year."

It is expected that Chowan’s total enrollment to reach well into four figures within three years. According to the Office of Enrollment Management, plans are already in place to repeat the process for next year’s freshman class. A direct mailing publication and emails will go out shortly to 50,000 prospective high school students who will graduate Spring 2006. In addition, tens of thousands of members of the high school class of 2007 are being introduced to Chowan College through direct mail and the Internet.

"It's exciting to see that students are once again clamoring to join us," announced Chowan President M. Christopher White.

The increased number of freshmen follows on the heels of the third consecutive year of financial surplus at the college.

"Chowan College is a wonderful place to be right now. We are reaping the rewards of all of the positive and exciting things that are occurring on campus," stated President White.

Chowan College is a private, liberal arts college and is the second oldest Baptist institution (founded in 1848) of higher learning in North Carolina. Students represent many faiths, races and come from numerous states and several foreign countries.

The college offers B.S. and B.A. degrees and is affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

For more information, visit www.chowan.edu or call 1-800-488-4101.