news at welch college   Welch College (formerly Free Will Baptist Bible College) in Gallatin, Tennessee, has been the official college of the Free Will Baptist Denomination since 1942. To find out more information about the school, visit www.Welch.edu.

 

Welch Admits the First Students to Master of Arts in Teaching

On September 12, the Welch Graduate Admissions Committee voted to admit the first students to its new Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, according to Dr. Greg Ketteman, vice president for strategic initiatives and graduate dean at Welch College. College officials anticipate program approval from college accreditors in December 2018 and courses for the 33-hour master’s program will begin January 19.

“Our alumni and denominational supporters have long sensed the need for a Welch College graduate program in education,” Ketteman said. “Admission of these MAT students is truly a historic moment that demonstrates God’s provision for our needs. There has never been a greater need for teachers who have a biblical worldview and who pursue their calling with excellence. Our vision for the Welch MAT is to foster excellence in teaching from a distinctively Christian perspective.”

The Welch MAT offers tracks in teaching, special education, and higher education pedagogy. The MAT is designed so all ten-week courses, offered both on campus
and live online, may be completed in 18 months. Scholarships and financial aid are available for qualifying students.

Provost Matthew McAffee said, “I commend Dr. Ketteman for his hard work in getting this program off the ground. We are thankful for the Lord’s blessing in bringing the MAT to fruition.”
It is not too late to apply for admission to the MAT. For more information go to welch.edu/ma-teaching or contact Dr. Greg Ketteman: gketteman@welch.edu or 615-675-5312.

Welch Named 13th Best Regional College in the South

Welch College received notification the institution ranks 13th among “Best Regional Colleges” (South Region) in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019 edition of America’s Best Colleges rankings, according to Welch president Matt Pinson. The numerical ranking of 13 indicates a rise of 13 places above the 2018 edition ranking of 26. Welch had the fifth highest ranking of all colleges and universities in Tennessee in the “Best Value” category, which combines quality and price.

“This is a tremendous blessing!” President Pinson enthused. “Although one of our eventual goals was to move this high in the rankings, it was a pleasant surprise to do so this year. This ranking demonstrates our quality not only to students and supporters but also those outside the Welch family. It also reassures prospective students and their parents that Welch remains a top-quality institution of higher learning that delivers on their educational investment, while keeping Christian learning and spiritual formation at the heart of their college experience.”

The “Best Regional Colleges” category where Welch is ranked includes 248 institutions that focus on undergraduate education and offer a range of degree programs in the liberal arts and professional fields such as business, nursing, and education. Colleges in this category are ranked within four geographic regions: North, South, Midwest, and West.

U.S. News rankings offer opportunities to judge the relative quality of institutions based on widely accepted indicators of excellence: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and more. Welch received especially high marks in four strategic areas—percent of classes with under 20 students (90%), student/faculty ratio (9/1), first-year student retention rate (72%), and freshmen in the top 25% of their high school class (66%). Welch’s peer reputation ranking also increased from 2.4 to 2.7.

Provost Matthew McAffee said, “I am excited to see such a remarkable increase in our ranking this year. Welch College is committed to excellence in our academic programs, and our momentous rise in this national ranking underscores our efforts. We thank the Lord for His continued favor upon the ministry of Welch College.”

More information is available about the rankings and methodology in the annual America’s Best Colleges guidebook at: www.usnews.com/collegemeth. For more information about Welch, email gotowelch@welch.edu or visit www.welch.edu.

College Marks Highest Enrollment in 32 Years

For the Fall 2018 semester, Welch College enrolled the highest number of students in 34 years, according to Provost Matthew McAffee. Total enrollment statistics indicate 404 students from 22 states and five foreign countries. “I am delighted to see this impressive increase in our enrollment numbers,” McAffee said. “We pray the Lord will continue His transformative work in the lives of these students He has entrusted to our care.”

McAffee further indicated excitement regarding the number of new students, both freshmen and transfer. This fall, 93 new students enrolled in on-campus programs at Welch, a 21% increase from last year’s new freshman and transfer enrollment of 77. A total of 116 new students joined the student body for the new school year, including graduate, online, and adult studies enrollments.

This is the highest enrollment since 1984, when students numbered 417.
At press time, the college reported 200 dormitory students, 53 commuter students, 27 graduate students, 18 enriched adult studies students, 38 online/lifetime learning students, and 68 dual enrollment students. The fall’s full-time equivalency (FTE) is 300 students, the highest in 12 years.

President Matt Pinson said, “We’re thankful to God for this blessing of another increase in dormitory and FTE enrollment. This is the most dormitory students we’ve had in many years, and we’re grateful to the Lord for His providential blessing. In a time when most college and university dorm enrollment is flat or declining, it’s wonderful to see ours going up.”

To contact Welch College for more information, email recruit@welch.edu or visit the college’s website at www.welch.edu.