Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø welcomes second largest group of new students
Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø first-year and transfer students enjoyed a full week of Welcome Week activities after moving into campus on Sept. 1. This included a Celebration Belle riverboat cruise on Sept. 3, featuring music, dancing, comedy and refreshments.
First-year Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø students form the letter A at Ericsson Field at Charles D. Lindberg Stadium on Sept. 1. First-year students moved in that day and immediately began Welcome Week ¨C a schedule packed with activities for students to get to know each other and Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø's campus.
More than 240 faculty, staff and returning students rolled up their sleeves to assist first-year and transfer students with move-in day on Sept. 1. Many of the college's international students, student-athletes and students taking part in Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø¡¯s PACE Multicultural Mentorship Program moved to campus in August.
New students gathered at Welcome Week kick-off at Carver Center, where they met their first-year or transfer mentor and got acquainted with other students.
Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø welcomed 790 new students this fall, including 723 first-year students and 67 transfer students.
This year¡¯s class was selected from a record pool of 8,217 applications, and admitted students are from 22 states and 32 countries. This is Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø¡¯s largest enrollment since fall 2019 and marks a clear and convincing rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to executive vice president and chief enrollment officer Kent Barnds.
Student Government Association President Rachel Nandelenga speaks to first-year students and their parents at convocation on Sept. 1. Students gathered at convocation after moving into residence halls and before beginning Welcome Week activities.
Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø¡¯s fall enrollment count includes 2,480 students ¡ª including 2,442 undergraduate students and 38 graduate students enrolled in the college¡¯s speech, language and pathology master¡¯s program. Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø saw a nearly 2% increase in retention this year compared to last year.
Barnds said this is the fourth largest group of first-year students in Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø¡¯s 163-year history, and it is the college¡¯s second largest class when you combine first-year and transfer students. The Class of 2027 includes 574 U.S. and 149 international students.
¡°This also represents a more than 23% increase in new student enrollment over the last year,¡± he said. ¡°We proudly welcome this new class of Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Vikings, and we¡¯re excited to see them begin their journey of engaging in our top-notch academic programs and more than 150 student activities.¡±
Barnds said this is the college¡¯s largest group of transfer students since 2008.
Transfer students come to Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø from a variety of backgrounds, including through Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Next agreements which pave the way for community college students to dual enroll and benefit from the support of an Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø academic advisor; an Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø professor from their desired major to discuss course choices, topics and opportunities; and the ability to enroll in any two Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø courses for a reduced fee ¡ª while attending their community college.
President Andrea Talentino said the Class of 2027 is the first to benefit from Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible, with 177 first-year students receiving grants from the innovative financial aid program for high-achieving students from families with lower incomes.
"Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Possible awards drew students from 10 states, and we more than doubled the number of recipients from the original projections,¡± President Talentino said. ¡°This grant is opening doors to deserving students who may not have previously believed a high-quality college was accessible to them, and the Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø education they earn here will be life-changing.¡±
Contact:
Nicole Lauer, 309-794-7645; nicolelauer@augustana.edu