Dear Alumni and Supporters,
It’s an exciting time of year at the University of New Orleans! Last month, we welcomed our new students to campus and welcomed back our returning students for the beginning of a new academic year. Our students arrive with a renewed desire to learn and high hopes for what they can accomplish in the year ahead. It is our job to challenge them, stimulate them and, most importantly, support them on their way to completing their degree at the University. The prospect of that is invigorating to me, and I know it is for our faculty and staff as well.
Speaking of our students—we have recorded some significant improvements in the number of new students at the University this fall. The number of new freshmen increased 20% compared to fall 2023 and the number of new transfer students jumped 60% compared to last fall. Our overall undergraduate student enrollment increased 3.5% year-over-year. Total enrollment—including undergraduate and graduate students—was down slightly (1.7%), but there are reasons to be optimistic about the future.
Our new freshmen and new transfer numbers demonstrate the fact that many students and their families recognize the value of a University of New Orleans education, which prioritizes educational excellence and access. The work that we are undertaking to increase undergraduate student retention is another reason that I am so confident we will begin growing our overall enrollment.
The University has begun working with the Gardner Institute, a nonprofit organization with a long history of partnering with colleges and universities to improve equitable outcomes associated with teaching and learning, as well as undergraduate retention and completion. UNO is part of a group of institutions that is working together as a community of practice to improve student retention and success throughout the first two years of college.
The initiative, called Transforming the Foundational Postsecondary Experience, will be a 5-year process to understand, refine and enhance the systems, structures and programs that support undergraduate students at UNO. I firmly believe this work will lead to higher retention and graduation rates and a more engaging and supportive experience for our undergraduate students. The future on the Lakefront is bright!
