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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2003

Birmingham-Southern preparing for another large freshman class, 148th academic year

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Birmingham-Southern is anticipating 361 freshman and 41 transfer students from 21 states and nine foreign countries to attend classes for the first time when the college's 148th academic year begins Wednesday, Aug. 27.

The 361 first-year students represent the second largest freshman class at Birmingham-Southern since 1989. First-year enrollments in 2001 and 2002 were the largest and third largest, respectively, in the past 14 years.

Total fall term enrollment is expected to be 1,404 students in classes with a 12-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.

The freshman class brings with it an average grade-point average of 3.4. The first-year class includes 24 valedictorians and 17 National Merit Finalists, bringing to 49 the total of National Merit Finalists on the Birmingham-Southern campus.

The college will welcome its new freshmen to campus on Saturday, Aug. 23, for the traditional “Move-In Day.” The new students, including transfer students, will spend the day moving into their residence hall rooms with the help of returning BSC students. The returning Birmingham-Southern students will move into their residence halls beginning Sunday, Aug. 24.

Birmingham-Southern's four-day Orientation for new students also begins Saturday, Aug. 23. An introduction to the campus and to student life, academic preparation sessions, entertainment, and other group activities highlight the schedule. The new students will spend Sunday afternoon, Aug. 24, participating in painting, landscaping, and other service projects at nearby Woodrow Wilson Elementary School.

Traditional rush activities begin Friday, Sept. 5, for sororities and Wednesday, Sept. 10, for fraternities.

The BSC faculty has again this year selected a book for the incoming first-year students to read. This year, the freshmen are reading The Future of Life by eminent Harvard University naturalist, Pulitzer Prize winner, and Mobile native Edward O. Wilson. The students have been using an online discussion board on the college's website to discuss the book over the summer and will delve further into their reading during new student orientation.