LESS than two years after changing its name from Jamaica Bible College to Regent College of the Caribbean, academic dean of the Mandeville-based institution, Dr Bryan Wallace, says they have witnessed a 25 per cent increase in enrolment and are hoping to achieve full capacity come the next school semester.

Dr Wallace says although the institution offers courses in business studies, early childhood education and counselling, it had dificulty attracting non-theological students.

“The prevailing perception out there was that the college was a Bible college, and that we only offered biblical programmes and prepared persons for pastoral ministry or other areas of ministry in parachurch organisations,” he said.

In addition to having a school of Bible and theology, a school of business and a school of education, the institution also has a school of continuing education that offers CXC classes to prepare students to meet the prerequisites to enter tertiary programmes.

“In some sense, we would be misrepresented if you think of us as only a Bible college,” the dean said.

The interdenominational college was first established in 1945 as a Bible institute, but started making significant changes to offer programmes other than theology and Bible-related courses from as early as 1978. This was due in part to the fact that students wanted to make themselves more marketable so they could secure jobs after completing their studies.

“The students who used to come here to do the business classes, most times people would ask, ‘Why are you going to a Bible college?'” Dr Wallace said.

The dean said that the most recent increase in enrolment is especially seen in their school of business. Students, he said, have been coming from across the island to pursue an education at the institution.

“We have received a positive response. We have seen excitement among the students as well,” he said

“I expect to see even more results coming from this change as we move forward and as the name becomes known around the country.”

The educator said they decided to call the institution Regent because it still wants to maintain its religious roots and be true to its focus on transforming lives through the institution.