CSU's Enrollment Growth Nears 4% Compared to 2023

Columbus State University’s official fall enrollment increased 3.9% compared to last year, according to final figures reported to the University System of Georgia. Buoyed by the university’s largest-ever graduate student class, 2024 is the second consecutive year the university has seen growth in overall student headcount. Official Fall 2024 enrollment stands at 7,937. This includes a 4.9% growth in new undergraduate students and a 1.9% increase in total undergraduate students compared to Fall 2023. This fall also marks the university’s largest-ever graduate student enrollment of 1,790—shattering its previous high of 1,654 in Fall 2017. This fall’s headcount represents an 11.6% increase in graduate students compared to last fall. President Stuart Rayfield pointed to several factors supporting these gains. “We offer students an affordable college experience—and a flexible one. We cater to students interested in an immersive experience marked by a vibrant social environment, but we also appeal to students who must maintain a work-life balance. What is constant for all our students are our career-focused academic programs, mentoring faculty and community partnerships that enhance their college experience,” she said. The university benefited from other significant single-year increases in several demographic areas, including:

A 9.0% increase in new dual-enrolled high school students and a 29.4% increase in total dual-enrolled students.

A 5.0% increase in new traditional-aged freshmen students.

A 4.9% increase in new undergraduate students.

Rayfield said recruiting more students to Columbus State isn’t an end, but part of a strategy that includes increasing the university’s retention and graduation rates. “We began an intensive focus on student success last spring, which continues into this academic year,” she said. “Our newly introduced strategic plan has as its initial priority specific activities to advance students—particularly undergraduate students—toward graduation, careers and meaningful lives.” Those efforts include redesigning the core curriculum, student advising and career services so they align students’ professional goals with their academic journey. All university areas have unified to enhance social activities and traditions to make the college experience more memorable. Columbus State offers 90-plus undergraduate and graduate degree programs spanning the fine and performing arts, business, education, health professions, humanities, social sciences and STEM fields.

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Four Turner College Faculty Recognized for Outstanding Teaching

CSU Head Women's Soccer Coach Jay Entlich recently released a list of CSU faculty who have been chosen by a player as a member of the CSU faculty who has impacted the player in a positive way along their journey at CSU. Four Turner College faculty were included on the list, along with the player who nominated each. Management professor Phil Bryant was named by Sophia Leal , a freshman midfielder from Oxford, Georgia. Sophia attended Eastside High School and was a two-time all-region selection during her high school career. Through the first 10 games of 2024, she has scored one goal and recorded three assists. Next, management professor John Finley was named by Lizz Forshaw , a graduate student forward from Stockton, England. Lizz, who attended IMG Academy in south Florida, has scored four goals and recorded four assists this season. During her senior year in 2023, she scored three goals and recorded two assists. As a junior in 2022, Lizz scored three goals ...

Turner College Grad Publishes Academic Study on Corporate Culture and Strategy

Former Turner College student Tamara Todorova , now an associate professor of economics at American University in Bulgaria (AUB), recently published a study on corporate culture and strategy. Todorova earned an MBA from the Turner College in 1996 and then went on to earn a doctorate in international economics from the University of Economics - Varna in 2001. She has been on the faculty at AUB since August of 2000. Todorova's study, which appears in the current issue of the International Journal of Business Performance Management , investigates how corporate culture helps to economize on the transaction costs of internal organization. As she explains, the dimensions of corporate culture that assist in this task include increasing trust and reducing intrafirm opportunism. Todorova's study demonstrates that setting common goals and a common direction reduces the sizeable costs of internal organization. Tamara's prior research appears in Economics of Transition , International ...

Hammer joins Turner College Finance Faculty

The Turner College's Department of Accounting and Finance welcomes Melissa Ingle Hammer , who joins the group as an adjunct faculty in finance. Hammer graduated from the Turner College in 2005, after earning a BBA in finance. She later went on to earn an MBA from Auburn University, a Specialist Certificate in Conduct Risk from the University of Manchester, a Certificate in Team Culture from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Certificate in Executive Presence from Cornell University. Hammer is the SVP of Fair Lending Product Management with RiskExec at Asurity. She previously worked as Compliance Manager of Fair Lending at Synovus, a senior regulatory consultant with Wolters Kluwer, and as VP of Compliance at TD. This semester Hammer will be teaching FINC 3135, Financial Institutions and Technologies. Turner Business welcomes Melissa and wishes her a great first semester in the Turner College.

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