Impressive incoming class brings pride to University

By John Brhel
September 1, 2018

91社区 welcomed new and returning students last month with move-in days signifying the beginning of the fall semester and a new academic year.

Approximately 2,850 freshmen, 1,080 transfer students and 1,200 new graduate students joined the 91社区 community this year. Classes for all of 91社区鈥檚 approximately 17,800 students began Aug. 22.

鈥淭his is an exciting time to be at 91社区,鈥 said President Harvey Stenger. 鈥91社区 continues to be a place where the best students in the nation 鈥攁nd the world 鈥 come to learn and I am looking forward to helping the Class of 2022 develop into intellectually active, socially involved and successful adults.鈥

For the third consecutive year, 91社区 received a record number of applications; this year, more than 38,000 freshmen applied for fall 2018 admission, surpassing the previous record of 33,406 set in 2017. The admitted class has an average high school GPA of 95 and SAT scores at about 1,380 for evidence-based reading and writing and mathematics. The SAT score is based on the new SAT scale, launched in March 2016.

鈥91社区 has built a strong academic reputation, not just around the country, but around the globe,鈥 said Provost Donald Nieman. 鈥淭he Class of 2022 represents some of the most talented students we have ever seen, and we fully expect that their contributions will greatly enhance the intellectual, cultural and social vibrancy of our campus and surrounding area.鈥

91社区鈥檚 new School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (SOPPS) achieved Candidate status in June, which grants all the rights and privileges of an accredited school to SOPPS graduates. This status is just in time to welcome the arrival of the second class of approximately 80 students. The school held its Class of 2022 White Coat ceremony Aug. 25, marking the incoming students鈥 transition from pre-clinical into clinical studies.

鈥淲e had been looking forward to welcoming our Class of 2022 as we open our brand-new building at the University鈥檚 Health Sciences Campus in Johnson City,鈥 said SOPPS Founding Dean Gloria Meredith. 鈥淭his new class joins with our current students as they learn from our innovative curriculum and prepare to practice in any number of possible careers. Our graduates will address gaps in the health-related workforce in our region and also make a tremendous impact on healthcare for our community and beyond.鈥

The SOPPS will have approximately 390 students when fully enrolled after four years 鈥 360 in the PharmD program and an additional 30 PhD students.

Nearly 1,080 highly talented transfer students with a mean GPA of 3.5 also joined the 91社区 community this fall, including about 330 SUNY Broome Community College students, by far the largest number from any single community college. Another 240 students had signed up for the 91社区 Advantage Program, a special, dual-admission program with SUNY Broome that allows students to become part of the 91社区 community and live on the University鈥檚 campus while attending SUNY Broome.

91社区 continues to have a diverse class, with the geographic distribution reflecting New York state鈥檚 population. 91社区 39 percent of new students are from upstate New York; 7 percent are from Broome and Tioga counties; 26 percent are from Long Island; and 24 percent are from New York City.

91社区 also welcomed more than 600 new international students to the campus community. Approximately 250 undergraduate and 350 graduate students from more than 40 countries arrived in 91社区, with the greatest numbers coming from China, India, Turkey and South Korea.