The University of West Georgia reported an increase in enrollment with 13,419 students for fall 2020, according to preliminary numbers. Enrollment for the university increased 1.4 percent from last yearÂ’s 13,238 students.
“Our priority at the University of West Georgia is, and always will be, the success of students and ensuring they are engaged in the richest university experience possible,” said UWG President Dr. Brendan B. Kelly. “This is the first look at UWG’s student body since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. With this increase in enrollment, we are excited to invite these new students to UWG to be a part of our next chapter.”
The UWG total preliminary enrollment number includes 10,331 undergraduate students and 3,088 graduate students.
Enrollment of graduate students has continued to increase at UWG for the past seven years, from 1,957 students in 2014 to 3,088 students in 2020, a 57.8 percent increase.
The university also improved first year retention, with 1,294 (72.8 percent) of the first-time full-time cohort students maintaining their enrollment at UWG from entering fall 2019 to returning fall 2020. ThatÂ’s an increase of 3.73 percentage points from last yearÂ’s rate of 69.07 percent.
One cause for the increased retention rate is the university’s enhanced commitment to collaborate across its divisions to optimize its strategic approach to recruitment and enrollment management. The recently opened Momentum Center at the heart of UWG’s campus – a one-stop-shop to enhance students’ overall experience – provides an unparalleled, streamlined experience where students can find a wealth of information and a team of people ready to help connect them with the resources they need.
“The university overall is trending up,” said Dr. Andre Fortune, vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. “More students continue to choose UWG for a variety of reasons, such as high-quality academics and caring faculty and staff who support them each step of the way. We are grateful for each student and family who chooses to invest in their future here.”
This latest news comes on the heels of data released in June reporting that despite a shift to online classes halfway through the spring semester because of COVID-19, studentsÂ’ grades improved over those earned by students in previous spring semesters.
According to UWG’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment, the average grade point average (GPA) for undergraduates at UWG rose by 6.3 percent – from 2.85 in fall 2019 to 3.03 in spring 2020.
At UWG, students can enroll in 92 programs of study at the bachelorÂ’s, masterÂ’s, doctoral and certificate levels. The university currently enrolls students from all over Georgia, 34 other U.S. states and 63 other countries. For the 2019-20 academic year, UWG conferred a record 2,978 degrees, up from 2,697 the year before.
written by Julie Lineback
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