E MPLOY E E NE W SL E T T E R
F E B RUA RY 2013
Winter Semester Stats: LOCAL ENROLLMENT STILL OVER 16,000; SLIGHT DECREASE IN POPULATION DUE TO MISSIONARY AGE CHANGE
Statistics released for Winter Semester 2013 show a total local enrollment of 16,354 students, an increase of approximately 4 percent over last winter. This number refers to individuals who take BYU-Idaho courses and predominately reside in the Rexburg area.* A drop in the student population due to the lowered service age eligibility for Latter-day Saint missionaries did occur as anticipated, with enrollment for Winter Semester 2013 down about 700 students from earlier projections. BYUIdaho expects the missionary age change will likely impact enrollment numbers through the middle of 2014. The university continues to see growth in the number of students enrolled in online courses and programs. These students reside across the United States and in several other countries. The number of online students for Winter Semester 2013 is 6,785, compared to 2,493 in Winter Semester 2012. This semester the local student body consists of 7,566 male students and 8,788 female students (46.3 percent and 53.7 percent respectively). The number of married students is 3,937, comprising 24.1 percent of the total local student population. *Of the total local enrollment of 16,354 students, 96.2 percent live in Rexburg, with the remaining 3.8 percent residing in locations from Idaho Falls to Ashton.
Local enrollment for Winter Semester 2013 is over 16,300 students.
New theatre degree to be offered starting this fall » By Matt Urick
BYU-Idaho’s Department of Theatre and Dance has announced it will offer a new major starting Fall Semester 2013. The degree, a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies, was recently approved by the Church Educational System’s Board of Trustees. Students who complete the program will be considered generalists in theatre. They will also have the opportunity to focus their studies in one of the following areas: General Theatre Studies, Performance and Directing, Theatre for Youth, or Theatre Design and Technology. Each emphasis is directed by a committee of theatre faculty who not only mentor students, but also provide frequent feedback on their progress and skill development.
“This new degree is designed to give students different options concerning their future careers,” said Richard Clifford, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance. “It differs from the Theatre Education degree in the sense that it’s tailored to address the career or life plans of individual students.” The Theatre Studies program also offers an Associate of Arts degree, where students can enjoy the same breadth of knowledge offered to those seeking a bachelor’s degree, but without an emphasis. The program also includes a concentration in theatre arts for students seeking an interdisciplinary degree with a theatre component.
F E B R UA R Y 2 013
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