by Charity Compton
Oklahoma Baptist University welcomed 571 new students this fall, continuing a five-year trend of growth in its incoming student population.
New-student enrollment increased 8.49% from the previous year. The increase brings another large class to OBU and contributes to the changing atmosphere on campus.
Allie Blevins, OBU’s director of recruiting, said the increase resulted from several factors within the admissions department rather than one specific change. Blevins has served as director of recruiting for one year after previously filling the role on an interim basis.
She said the department has worked to give prospective students an admissions experience that reflects the community they will find after enrolling. The department’s philosophy centers on what Blevins calls “unreasonable hospitality,” an approach focused on making prospective students and their families feel valued throughout the admissions process.
“The admissions office philosophy and motto is unreasonable hospitality,” Blevins said. “We want to be unreasonably hospitable to every single person who comes on our campus during the admissions process because we know that’s what they’ll feel when they’re a student here.”
That personal approach is particularly important in a state where students have several college options. Blevins said admissions counselors must find ways to distinguish OBU from other universities competing for students’ attention.
“If we’re at a college fair and we’re smushed in between OU, OSU, OC and UCO, this Oklahoma student has a lot of good options right there, and we have to set ourselves apart to even form that connection,” Blevins said.
Although marketing and social media are part of the university’s recruitment strategy, personal relationships remain an important part of bringing students to campus. Admissions counselors attend college fairs, visit high schools and participate in events designed to connect with students and their families.
“I think there’s a lot of one-on-one personal development and relationships that have to happen,” Blevins said.
OBU’s relationships with churches and Oklahoma Baptists also help the university connect with potential students. Recruitment efforts include working with youth groups and attending summer camps such as Falls Creek and Super Summer.
Increased enrollment also creates challenges. More students can mean greater demand for parking, housing and dining. Blevins said the university must adjust while ensuring the student experience remains a priority.
“Growth is a good thing, but we have to adjust to the growth,” Blevins said. “We don’t want to lessen a student experience just because we weren’t prepared for growth.”
Current students may notice the increase through larger incoming classes and greater participation in campus activities. Although those numbers can create unexpected challenges, Blevins said the trend is ultimately positive for the university.
The admissions department also wants to recruit students who are likely to become involved members of the OBU community. Blevins said the goal is not simply to increase enrollment but to find students who want to participate in campus life.
“We’re not just bringing students here for a number,” Blevins said. “We’re bringing them here to experience the life-changing education that OBU has to offer, and to find community and find friends.”
That focus will remain important as OBU works to sustain its momentum. Admissions officials are already looking toward the next incoming class, and Blevins said she expects the trend to continue.
“I would expect our growth to continue, and I’m prayerful that it does,” Blevins said.
For OBU, the 571 new students represent more than an enrollment statistic. They are a new group joining the university’s classrooms, residence halls, organizations and broader campus community.
