With sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram developing faster than ever, society can no longer ignore how social media saturates our daily lives. When considering this social media phenomenon on a college campus, the shift from face-to-face communication to screen-mediated communication is revolutionizing the way college administrators engage with students—from their first campus visit to graduation day.

“The interaction between Messiah College and its students that takes place on social media is extremely important to the life of the institution. Students are able to have a voice because of the transparency and two-way communication that is created by social media and feel like a valued part of the life at the college,” says Ethan Eshbach ’14.

The admissions office has noticed a trend in high school students that visit Messiah’s campus. “Social media is popular and pervasive with high school students. With social media and mobile devices, they are always ‘on,’” says John Chopka, vice president for enrollment management. “While it has become a preferred way to communicate with friends, organizations like ours need permission to enter that world.” (more…)

If campus seems just a smidge busier this year, it’s for a good reason—Messiah exceeded all of its enrollment goals for the 2010-11 academic year!

The Class of 2014 is comprised of a total of 727 first-year students. In addition, 123 transfer and returning students joined the Messiah community. That means the College’s undergraduate enrollment is 2,826.

Add in the three graduate programs—masters degrees in counseling, conducting, and art education—and Messiah College’s total enrollment tops off at 2,958 students!

Messiah’s student body also got richer in diversity as international students and students from underrepresented ethnic and cultural populations now comprise more than 13% of Messiah’s enrollment.

When the Class of 2014—consisting of students from across the country and around the world—moved to campus last week, they already shared some things in common, according to the annual Beloit College Mindset List, a summary of touchstone moments in each generation’s growing up experience. (more…)

The largest Christian music festival in the country, Creation, takes place less than 90 miles from Messiah’s Grantham campus. For four days, tens of thousands of young adults and church groups turn the scenic Agape Farm into a tent city of sorts.  With countless campsites dotting the landscape, a wonderful community atmosphere is created.  And lots and lots of garbage. Believe it or not, that’s where Messiah College comes into play!
In 2008, transfer student admissions counselor Bryanna Boone got the idea that Messiah could offer a valuable service to Creation organizers and attendees by instituting a recycling program at the festival. That year, Messiah staff, students, and volunteers collected and recycled more than 60,000 bottles and cans.
This year, a team of 10 employees, six work-study students, and six volunteers saved another 60,600 cans and bottles from the landfill, all while chatting up Messiah with nearly 2,000 attendees! This sustainability commitment amounts to a little more than two tons of recycled material during the four-day event.
Watch a video highlighting the College’s recycling efforts at Creation.

Read more about Messiah’s sustainability commitments.