On Aug. 28, 2010, the University welcomed some - Reinhardt ...

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Some Reinhardt University Firsts...
See all the faces that were first to take part
in these University traditions.
Meet the first Reinhardt University Captainss pictured here (back row, from left):
Jeremy Ragan, Aliecia Brooks, Jenna Lee, Chasity Miller, Claire Moore, Courtney
Holcombe, Caroline Pereira, Jessica Brown, Olivia Goodall, Sloane Stafford, Rachael
1Brooke Benton from Canton, Ga., was the first
Mack, Stephanie Jarrard and Caroline Folsom; (front row, from left): Caitlan Sum-
prospective student to receive a campus tour of
ner, Misti Dawn Steward, Zaine Hedge and Stephen Karafa. They assist the admis-
Reinhardt University! She is a member of Reinsions
office in recruiting students.
hardt’s Class of 2014.
New students sign the first Reinhardt University Honor Pledge at New Student Induction. Reinhardt’s student body elects Zaine Hedge, a
senior English major from Villa Rica, Ga., as the
first Reinhardt University Student Government Association
president.
Nontraditional Student
Numbers on the Rise
Graduate students make up one tenth of Reinhardt’s
population, an 84 percent increase since the addition
of the first master’s program in 2007.
Though Reinhardt’s adult programs have
grown steadily over the past two years, the
increases in graduate and undergraduate
enrollment for fall 2010 were dramatic,
said Margaret “Peg” O’Connor, associate
vice president for academic affairs.
“The growth in Reinhardt’s adult programming
is a direct response to the demand
for these degrees in the marketplace
and the exciting career opportunities they
provide,” she said. “Also, the Herculean efforts
of Adult Admissions Counselor Ray
Schumacher produced real results. In addition,
our staff in the North Fulton Center,
the Registrar’s Office and the Financial Aid
Office worked together to make it easier
for adult students to enroll.”
O’Connor sees the growing demand
from adult students as an opportunity that
University planners can address with distinctive,
targeted programs. Recent statistics
from government agencies, the private
sector and print resources report that the
number of adult learners is expected to
double within the next decade, and Reinhardt
needs the right program mix to meet
that growth, she said.
Popular Degree Completion
Programs for Adults
Enrollment in the undergraduate education
and business programs has also skyrocketed.
The WAIT program (Working
Adults into Teaching), an early childhood
education degree and teaching certification
program for working adults, has 130 students
on the Waleska campus and at the
Cartersville and Epworth sites.
Degree-completion programs in Organizational
Management and Leadership
and Public Safety Management and Leadership
have also enrolled more than 90
students at the North Fulton Center and
Cartersville and Marietta sites.
Three Graduate Offerings...
with more to come
Reinhardt now offers three graduate
programs: a Master of Arts in Teaching in
Early Childhood Education, MAT; a Master
of Business Administration, MBA; and
a Master of Music, MM.
The MAT has welcomed 80 students
since its introduction in fall 2009. With
more than 25 new students, the MBA has
its largest class to date this fall, and another
cohort is anticipated for spring 2011. The
MM now has 11 students.
O’Connor also sees more demand for
graduate degrees. The National Center for
Educational Statistics found that master’s
degrees increased 45 percent in the last
decade. Business and education showed
more than a 50 percent increase, security
and protective services showed a 188
percent increase and healthcare increased
9 percent.
Meeting this demand, as well as requests
from alumni, has prompted Reinhardt
to add an M.Ed., a Master in Education
in early childhood education for
certified teachers with undergraduate education
degrees. The 24-month program has
been approved by SACS and will start in
August 2011.
Also being considered for development
are a Master in Public Administration and
a Master in Homeland Security. The homeland
security program will address the
needs of homeland security professionals,
namely first responders, especially those
in mid-management and decision-making
positions. The call for graduate education
in homeland security has grown dramatically,
and the Department of Homeland
Security expects to fill more than 500,000
mid- to upper-level management positions
by 2015. — POC
Top: Reinhardt’s North Fulton Center on Old Milton
Parkway in Alpharetta, Ga., offers the MBA
and MAT graduate programs, adult programs and
public-safety related programs.
Middle: Programs related to public safety are another
growth area for Reinhardt, including the
Police Academy, a bachelor degree in public safety
management and leadership, and an associate
degree in criminal justice or fire management.
Shown here is Reinhardt’s third Police Academy
class, which graduated in May 2010.
Bottom: Class discussion is a central feature in
Reinhardt’s MBA program. Faculty and students
create a lively, experienced-based learning environment.
MBA class members listen intently to the
class discussion.
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