increased enrollment

At its last meeting of 2023, The Evergreen State College’s Board of Trustees, in an action to incentivize the retention of current college president John Carmichael, voted to extend his contract through June 2027 and to add a deferred compensation component to his compensation.

Board members expressed much appreciation for Carmichael’s successful leadership in achieving significant enrollment growth, expansion of student housing to accommodate more students, broadening of the curriculum, increases in philanthropic contributions, improvements to the college’s finances and numerous upgrades to infrastructure. These and many more successes constitute the motivation of the Board to retain him beyond his current contract June 2025 expiration date.

President Carmichael expressed appreciation to the many in the college he has worked with who have contributed their leadership talents to bringing about these successes. These include executive leadership, faculty, staff and students.

Following the meeting, Board Chair Karen Fraser stated, “It is a pleasure to work with President Carmichael. The Board is exceptionally pleased with his thoughtful leadership style and his many successes that have advanced the college. Students, faculty, staff and the communities served by the college will benefit significantly from his continuing commitment.”

On its 10th day of classes, The Evergreen State College proudly announces another surge in enrollment for the 2023-24 academic year, marking the second consecutive year of remarkable growth.  

This year the college is celebrating a 23% increase in new student enrollment compared to the previous year. Undergraduate enrollment has grown by 11%, representing the most substantial increase since 1980.  

"We are thrilled to witness such substantial growth at Evergreen,” said Dr. John Carmichael, Evergreen president. “This success underscores our commitment to providing a distinctive approach to teaching and learning that adapts to the evolving needs of our students and their families.” 

“The sustained growth in enrollment is a testament to the dedication of our staff and faculty,” added Executive Vice President Dr. Dexter Gordon. “They have worked tirelessly to navigate the changing landscape of higher education and our world. We remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering a supportive learning environment that equips our students with the tools to make a lasting impact in whatever career path they choose.” 

Athletic Expansion

In addition to enrollment growth, Evergreen is breaking new ground in athletics. Starting this academic year, the institution now proudly offers men’s and women’s wrestling and cross-country teams, becoming the only four-year college in Washington to have an intercollegiate wrestling program. This expansion is made possible by the generous donation from Evergreen alum Kim Kaufman ('78) and her husband, Jimmy Goldsmith.

Campus Infrastructure Expansion

Anticipating the increase in students on campus, Evergreen added 125 more beds to its on-campus housing over the summer. The comprehensive rehabilitation of Building A has successfully alleviated housing stress for students, enabling them to focus on their education. 

William Ward, Chief Administrative Officer for Evergreen, expressed his excitement, stating, “We appreciate the great work of Willdan Consultants, the contractor who designed, led and executed the project in consultation with the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services and Evergreen’s dedicated facilities and residential and dining services staff.” 

Highlighting First-Generation and Diverse Student Growth 

"Evergreen’s first-generation students saw a significant bump this year, adding 68 new students whose parents did not get a four-year degree,” explained Dr. Gordon. “We are welcoming 274 students who are the first in their family to attend college, comprising 30 percent of this year’s new student class. We also have a more diverse student population, with a 6 percent increase over last year for Latinx and Native American/Alaska Native students. We are committed to fostering an inclusive learning environment that reflects the diversity of our community and this growth demonstrates that students are finding their place at Evergreen.” 

Increased Enrollment from Neighboring Counties and National Recognition 

More first-year students direct from high school in neighboring counties across Washington are selecting Evergreen as their college of choice. With an over 40 percent increase, the institution has more than doubled the number of students from Mason County and seen significant increases in Pierce, King and Thurston counties. 

Evergreen has received national recognition, ranking No. 20 out of over 600 colleges and universities across the country as a “Best Bang for the Buck College” and No. 4 for a Master’s University. The college was also ranked fourth best out of 613 institutions awarding bachelor's and master’s degrees. 

Positive Impact of Return-to-Learn Initiative

Evergreen’s initiative to engage former students to return and complete their degrees is also having a positive impact. In Fall 2021, there were 45 returning Greeners who took advantage of a special incentive scholarship from the The Evergreen State College Foundation. This year that number jumped to 75. 

Tacoma Campus Growth

The college's Tacoma Campus is also experiencing significant enrollment growth, especially in the new Early Childhood Education degree program. New student enrollment has increased to 63 from 38 last year on the campus, with nearly half enrolled in this innovative program. 

College leaders agree that these increases define the appeal of an Evergreen education, as now more than ever, students are being intentional about where they want to go to college. They are looking for a place that reflects their values, offers hands-on immersive learning and provides evidence that their degree will help them meet their future goals. 

For over 50 years, Evergreen has been a place where students can embrace the rigor of learning, engage in challenging innovative ideas and receive unwavering support as they acquire the skills needed to forge their own paths in the world. Evergreen remains dedicated to the legacy of encouraging independent thinkers and empowering future leaders. 

For more information about The Evergreen State College, please visit www.evergreen.edu. 

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TACOMA – The Evergreen–Tacoma campus has been providing a college education right in the heart of the Hilltop neighborhood for going on three decades and is celebrating Fall Quarter with an increase in enrollment – up 48 percent from last fall.  

Like most higher education institutions, The Evergreen State College, including its Tacoma campus, saw a decrease in enrollment,especially during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Evergreen-Tacoma offers a robust, community-based style of learning. Each school year, there is a theme and this year’s is “Liberty and Justice for Whom?” Throughout each quarter for the 2022-23 school year, faculty, speakers and special guests will work with students at the Tacoma campus to develop an understanding of the justice system as it was, as it is today and what it can be in the future.  

“We are so excited to welcome our new and returning students to The Evergreen State College’s Tacoma campus,” said Dr. Marcia Tate Arunga, Dean of Tacoma. “Tacoma has a rich history of welcoming community and education. It is a place where magical transformation occurs and authentic learning takes the front seat.” 

Evergreen Tacoma, whose original founders are Dr. Maxine Mimms and Dr. Joye Hardiman, was created to bring education to all who wanted it. On Sunday, October 16, the campus will host an evening event featuring human rights activist, poet, educator and Black Panther Leader, Ericka Huggins. 

“I first encountered The Evergreen State College when I met Dr. Maxine Mimms and Dr. Joye Hardiman, founders of Evergreen’s Tacoma campus through the grassroots community engagement and rich history that these two extraordinary educators brought to the Hilltop community,” said Dr. Dexter Gordon, Executive Vice President for The Evergreen State College.  

Both campuses for The Evergreen State College are celebrating a 14 percent increase in enrollment overall as well as the award of $2.1 million in a Title III Grant that will allow the college to better serve its students – especially those traditionally underserved by higher education institutions. 

“Evergreen is on the right side of the education spectrum. I see the college as a full partner with the rest of the state in providing the kind of quality education of which we can all be proud. I look around the country and am hard-pressed to see another public, liberal arts institution that is dedicated to removing barriers to education while making sure that diversity is central to what we do,” said Gordon. 

Evergreen’s Tacoma campus is a dynamic liberal arts program focused on community, flexibility and convenience. The campus also offers a bi-lingual, Early Childhood Education Program which will help prepare students for a career working with children while earning their bachelor’s degree in liberal studies. Contact Shawn Harris if you are interested in the Early Childhood Education program at Shawn.Harris1@evergreen.edu or by calling 253-680-3000.  
 

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