Diversity, academic strength seen in SU’s first-year class

Diversity, academic strength seen in SU’s first-year classAugust 20, 2007Sara Millersemortim@syr.edu

The 2007 first-year class at Syracuse University arrives on campus as one of the most diverse, academically strongest in recent years. A total of 3,100 admitted students have accepted the invitation to study in SU’s nine undergraduate schools and colleges, with students from traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic groups making up 29% of these enrolled students — up from 28% last year, and continuing a positive four-year trend beginning with 18% in 2004. As was the case with the class of 2010, the 2007 first-year class academic profile is again high, with a mean grade point average of 3.6.

“This fall, we will welcome the most culturally diverse class in our history,” says Susan Donovan, dean of admissions. “It’s so exciting to be able to incorporate such different perspectives in the learning process.” Donovan leads an admissions team that in recent years has focused on more extensive outreach to bright, promising students from all ethnic and geographic backgrounds, including first-generation students. The class of 2011 is represented by students from 42 states and D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Also joining the class of 2011 is a group of international students strong in number and hailing from many different countries. The international new student population jumped from 3.4% last year, to 4.4% this fall, with students coming from 26 countries, including Cote D’Ivoire, Pakistan, Turkey, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and China. One-hundred and forty new international first-year students are expected to arrive on campus for fall classes.

Donald Saleh, who on Aug. 1 succeeded longtime vice president for enrollment management, David C. Smith, says that SU has positioned itself well to appeal to a wide range of high-ability students — both from the United States and abroad. “The fact that we are continuing to see greater enrollment of qualified undergraduate applicants from such a far-reaching geographic range is a strong indicator that the academic reputation of the University is becoming much more global,” says Saleh.