Newman University is experiencing an impressive increase in new student enrollment for its fall 2022 term. First-time students, traditionally known as freshmen, rose 35% from 2021 and overall, the undergraduate class, which also includes transfers, is up 22% from last year’s recruiting class.
The new total enrollment number ranks as Newman’s largest incoming undergraduate class of the past decade. With increases across the board, the 2022 class is one of the university’s biggest in school history.
Newman’s new graduate student numbers are also strong. Currently enrolled degree and non-degree-seeking graduates stand at 260 students and are likely to grow when the second eight-week fall term begins in October. The non-degree-seeking designation includes graduate students pursuing licensure and certificates.
I’m very excited by the quality of our amazing new members of the student body.”
President Kathleen S. Jagger
After several down recruiting cycles impacted by the pandemic and shifting demographic trends, President Kathleen S. Jagger believes this year’s success is cause for excitement.
“It is encouraging to see these growing results in all three recruiting areas and credit goes to the extremely hard-working enrollment professionals led by vice president Christine Schneikart-Luebbe and her leadership team of Georgia Drewes and Christy Hawks,” Jagger said.
”In addition to the positive enrollment trend, I’m very excited by the quality of the amazing new members of our student body. Everyone I’ve met so far gives me great confidence that Newman’s mission of empowering students who will go on to transform the world for good is in great hands.”
Schneikart-Luebbe sees this year’s success as a product of the contributions of many.
“We believe in the ‘it takes a village’ approach,” she said. “All community members, from the admissions team to faculty, staff, coaches and administration play a role in recruiting new students and their families to Newman.”
She continued, “Because our community so intentionally invests in the recruitment process, students understand when choosing Newman, they are joining a family that will embrace and support them. I am excited to see the growing enthusiasm for this university and I am grateful for the dedicated work of the entire Newman community. We achieved this milestone together.“
Associate Director of Admission Georgia Drewes credits her teammates’ persistence though out the process of enrolling the new class.
“We’ve worked through a lot of obstacles, tried new things, and used our critical thinking skills to promote Newman and make it a possibility for a lot of students.
“I commend our team for going above and beyond – they work a lot of extra hours, evenings, and weekends, take time away from their friends and families, and were and still are very dedicated to seeing these students matriculate, retain, and be successful.”
To illustrate the “above and beyond” work of the team, Drewes pointed to an example of one admissions counselor’s efforts.
“We had a student call us the first week of classes, wanting to make a change from another university they’d chosen and moved into that week. Joshua Prilliman was able to hear her concerns, act quickly to get her setup for an enrollment appointment, work with various departments to expedite the process, and now she’s a part of our new class!”
The new academic term started Aug. 22. Newman University offers degree programs at the associate, bachelor, master and doctorate levels. A list of academic programs and more are available at NewmanU.edu.
