New Syracuse University students move in with the help of the Goon Squad at the beginning of a previous fall semester.
Later this week, Syracuse University will welcome to campus an increasingly diverse and academically competitive group of about 4,000 students ready to begin their academic life here, make lifelong friends and become part of an inclusive, challenging and stimulating learning community.
“This is such a special time for our new students and their families and friends,” says Chancellor Kent Syverud. “I welcome them to the Syracuse University community and wish them all the best as they begin their academic career here. This is a transformative time in their lives. They will learn, grow, identify their passions and make their families proud.”
More than 33,000 high-achieving students applied for admission this year, an increase of more than 2,000 applicants over the previous year. Dolan Evanovich, senior vice president for enrollment and the student experience, says the increasing number of applicants is evidence of the growing interest in a Syracuse University education.
“Syracuse University’s future is brighter than ever before thanks to the many transformative initiatives underway, including the implementation of the Academic Strategic Plan and the Campus Framework,” says Evanovich. “Students today are looking for the total experience and that’s exactly what they’ll receive at Syracuse University. They want rigorous academics that challenge and prepare them for career success, a holistic learning environment that integrates health and wellness and world-class faculty that not only teach them, but mentor and inspire them as well. I look forward to seeing our new students thrive and excel during their time at Syracuse.”
Joining the Syracuse University community is a talented group of students reflecting an important characteristic of a Syracuse University education—its diverse makeup. The projection for the new first-year class is 26 percent students of color, compared to 24 percent last year. About 20 percent of incoming students are first-generation college students and roughly 75 percent of Syracuse students are receiving some form of financial aid. New students represent 46 states, along with Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands, and 53 countries, with over 535 international undergraduate students enrolling this year.
“Syracuse University’s longstanding commitment to access and inclusion is paramount to creating a truly global campus community that enhances academic success and develops young people into citizens of the world,” says Maurice Harris, dean of admissions. “We are excited to welcome this new class of students and share with them all that Syracuse University has to offer to create an unsurpassed student experience inside and outside the classroom.”
The University’s commitment to expanding the student experience is among several key focus areas contained in the Academic Strategic Plan. Recently, the University announced Invest Syracuse: Advancing Academic Excellence and the Student Experience, a $100 million initiative that funds the Academic Strategic Plan and provides students with a distinctive, world-class experience to prepare them for professional and personal success. Invest Syracuse seeks to redefine the student experience, advance discovery and innovation, and expand opportunity for students of promise and talent from across the socioeconomic spectrum.
