Freshman Class is Largest in History
The University of San Francisco enrolled the largest freshman class in the school’s 148-year history, with the incoming class being one of the most ethnically diverse in the nation.
The school enrolled about 950 freshmen and 350 transfer students for the fall semester, approximately 100 more students than enrolled last fall, according to B.J. Johnson, dean of academic services. Numbers were preliminary and are likely to fluctuate slightly by the final census date on September 19.
“This is our largest incoming class by a large margin and our academically strongest one as well,” she said.
Johnson said that Californians make up approximately 65 percent of the new students and about 48 percent are students of color. Another 8 to 10 percent are international students. The incoming class also has students from 48 states.
USF expects a total student population of approximately 8,500 this year, with approximately 4,050 traditional undergraduates.
While the university enjoys a rush in admitted students, the St. Ignatius Institute is drawing students of increasingly high caliber. This year, about a third of the Institute’s entering class were honored as University Scholars for their exceptionally high grade point averages and SAT scores. Students admitted as University Scholars must have a high school grade point average of at least 3.8 and a 1320 SAT score.
“I’m very pleased with the incoming freshman class. They are a bright and diverse group of students who will bring much to the USF campus,” said Paul Murphy, director of the Institute.
The Institute will benefit this year from a $100,000 gift from the William H. Hannon Foundation, a Catholic charity, to be used for a visiting lecturer from the Gregorian University in Rome, student retreats, and a “Future of the Church” symposium in the spring.
In addition, the master's in theology program is tripling its size this fall, from an average cohort of 10 to 12 to more than 35 students enrolled, with the advent of a new class schedule.
With the switch from three- to four-unit classes, program directors decided to institute an all-day Saturday schedule instead of the normal two weeknight classes. The program has also adopted a cohort model—there will be no revolving admissions, allowing students to stay with the same classmates for three years. Already the scheduling arrangement is attracting large numbers of new students.
“This is the highest number we’ve ever had, since the glory days in the ’60s when we could attract 80 or 90 people into theology,” said Daniel Kendall, S.J., chair of the theology and religious studies department.
His new students do not necessarily work in Catholic schools. Their average age is 40 and they’re at the height of other careers, as doctors, lawyers, military personnel, or academics. “But they’re interested in coming home and getting back into the church,” Fr. Kendall said.
|
