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By Kenya Godette

���Ϲ� marks significant milestones in recruitment, enrollment and retention as the fall 2024 semester draws to a close. Growth in its top-performing students and online learners, along with gains in fall 2023 to fall 2024 retention and spring 2025 registration, reflect intentional goals outlined in the University’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, which identifies a forward-focused and innovative approach to student success.

“The individual success of Monarch students and the collective future of our local communities and the Commonwealth of Virginia are vital to the mission and work of ���Ϲ�. This is why our University is forward-focused on student success by ensuring necessary support is provided throughout the degree-seeking journey of our talented students,” said ���Ϲ� President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D. “From recruiting new students to enhancing a strong sense of belonging among current students, ���Ϲ� remains deeply committed to providing an education that is both rigorous and responsive to the needs of our individual students and the broader communities that we are honored to serve.”

Growth in Honor Students, Online Learning and Transfers

This fall, ���Ϲ� welcomed a class of 23,743 new students. The cohort includes 2,725 first-time freshmen, distinguished by 28 valedictorians and salutatorians. ���Ϲ�’s total enrollment includes 17,746 undergraduate students and 5,997 graduate students.

With the establishment of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ���Ϲ� on July 1, which created the most comprehensive health sciences portfolio in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the University added 1,216 medical and health professions degree-seeking scholars to an existing robust network of future health sciences professionals

“We’re excited to see so many students join our campus community in pursuit of their academic and professional dreams,” said Ashley Miller, associate vice president for enrollment management. “We are looking forward to watching our Monarchs thrive and succeed for years to come.”

���Ϲ�’s strategic enrollment efforts also produced gains in online learning and transfer students. The University welcomed 7,735 online learners, marking nearly a 7% increase from fall 2023. Additionally, 1,738 students transferred to ���Ϲ�, which was made possible, in part, by initiatives like the Tidewater Community College-���Ϲ� partnership that offers an accelerated pathway for students to transition to ���Ϲ�.

First-Year Retention Climbs with a Focus on Student Success

The University also increased its retention of first-year students to 77%, a 5% increase in the last three years. Brian Payne, Ph.D., interim provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs, asked deans, directors and department chairs to develop program-based student retention plans to cultivate and support students on their academic journeys.

“We have the power to make meaningful changes and identify effective ways of eliminating roadblocks to student motivation and success.  My leadership team and I have reviewed and are pleased with the activities chairs have proposed to address key factors like belonging, academic support and course scheduling,” Payne wrote in an email to faculty and staff.

Such retention strategies include:

• Streamlined curricular pathways: Academic departments have conducted curricular reviews and implemented proactive course scheduling to remove barriers to major declaration and progression.
• Belonging activities: Units are working to develop events, like movie nights, exercise runs and lunch and learns, and comprehensive orientation programming to foster a sense of community.
• Work-based learning opportunities: Departments have identified initiatives, like internship opportunities and undergraduate research and career awareness programming.
• Reducing DFWI rates: Efforts to lower rates of students receiving grades of D, F, or withdrawing have been prioritized.

Campuswide Initiative Drives Spring Enrollment Registration

Last month, the Office of Advising Administration launched a campuswide initiative to increase and encourage spring 2025 enrollment. The campaign produced an undergraduate student registration rate of 76%. The campaign will continue with focused outreach through the end of the calendar year.

Through a series of in-person and virtual events and a targeted marketing campaign, including flyers and yard signs, current undergraduate students were invited to explore courses that align with their career goals and register on the spot.

“Our goal is to remove barriers to the registration process and give students the information, guidance and tools to make the best decisions possible for their educational future,” said Amy Johnson, assistant vice president for Academic Success.

The initiative also aims to dispel myths about the registration process and provide firm guidance on tuition deadlines.

As ���Ϲ� celebrates these milestones and identifies areas for continued growth, ensuring that every Monarch has resources to thrive academically remains a priority and is at the center of the University’s strategic path forward. Beyond the success of students on campus, the addition of scholars pursuing medical degrees within Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ���Ϲ� also promises opportunities for the University to make meaningful impacts in Hampton Roads through a health professions career pipeline. An intentional approach towards student growth, retention and success support services unites University goals with the personal and professional aims of its students – a testament to ���Ϲ�’s commitment to shaping and inspiring the leaders of tomorrow.