By Alex Brickey

CIU Student Writer

Hours before cars and U-Hauls rolled on to International Boulevard to enter the Columbia International University campus, student leaders gathered on The Quad to pray for the 2021-2022 school year and especially for The Class of 2025. Afterward, they dispersed to the front of the residence halls in anticipation of the new arrivals on freshman move-in day.

“It was so exciting seeing some of the girls that would be on my hall and to help them move in. The parents were so excited that they had so much help to move in and talked about their move- in experience to college,” said Nandry Conrod, the president of MuKappa, a student organization that helps missionary kids acclimate to college. “It was just so great seeing people make family memories.”

The cars kept coming, bringing in one of the largest freshmen classes CIU has ever enrolled.  

Nick Smith, a Master of Divinity student and treasurer of the Senior Class recalled the energy and excitement of moving in as a freshman.

“It’s been an amazing experience to be able to help these new students have that experience (and) help them start their new life in college and help them to feel that excitement of independence,” Smith said. “It's really fun to be able to help them move on to that and help them and see that excitement. That's been really cool.”

While the numbers are not official yet, administrators believe total enrollment for the new school year will be the largest in CIU’s nearly 100-year history.

With record enrollment in 2020, CIU consistently ranks among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, as well as a Best Value Regional University in the South. Request information on enrollment at CIU and Columbia Biblical Seminary or call (800) 777-2227, ext. 5024.