As the new academic year begins, Goshen College welcomes the class of 2022, a group of 200 students representing 31 states and 12 countries. Fifty-one transfer students have also joined the campus community.

This year marks the first time in over a decade that the college has seen two consecutive first-year classes with 200 or more students, a testament to the work admissions staff has been doing since 2014 to increase enrollment.

However, this year, the first-year class enrollment dropped by 15 students. Last year, GC welcomed 215 students. But that drop in enrollment doesn’t deter the admissions team’s excitement for this class.

“This year’s incoming class has been exceptionally engaged with the admissions staff and with the campus at large,” said Adela Hufford, dean of admissions. “There is great energy and excitement with this year’s incoming students.”

Miller Hall, which was closed from 2014-2018, reopened this fall to help accommodate the 186 new students living in the dorms. Despite this, the percentage of commuter students in the first-year class has increased from last year, rising from 26 percent to 30 percent.

The amount of incoming students — including transfers — hailing from Elkhart county has risen from 86 in the 2017-18 school year to 105 this year. The number of out-of-state new students (which includes those from other countries) also has risen, from 91 last year to 110 this year. Forty-nine new students come from Indiana, but from outside of Elkhart county.

As has been the trend in recent years, the gender ratio remains in favor of women among new students, at approximately a 60 percent to 40 percent ratio. There are 110 men, 152 women, and 2 non-binary students in the incoming class.

In recruiting new students, the admissions office dedicates resources to attract students of color, as well as international students. Admissions continues to actively attract students from diverse academic backgrounds, religious beliefs and geographic locations.They also work closely with the athletic department to recruit student-athletes that will contribute well to their teams and to the greater campus culture.

As a result, this year’s incoming class brings unique experiences and new ideas to the Goshen community.