PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Nazareth University is among the first universities in the Rochester area to welcome its incoming freshman class. Freshman and transfer students are moving into Nazareth on Thursday, followed by a weekend full of events to make them feel at home.
Students are moving in amid some changes on campus, including a new president and a new program for aspiring physician assistants.
News10NBC spoke with Maureen Finney, Nazareth’s 11th president, about her vision for the university and enrollment trends. News10NBC is your back-to-school headquarters. We’re tracking what’s new at schools this year, along with some of the challenges schools are facing. Watch News10NBC TODAY for our live coverage next week and the following week. Here are some of our stories so far:
Rochester Prep starts Wednesday, aims to teach students to use AI responsibly this school year Guide to when school returns for districts across the Rochester and Finger Lakes areas Heading to college campus visits soon? An expert says these are the two questions you need to askNazareth seeing growth in enrollment
Students are heading to college amid a statewide trend of decreasing enrollment in higher education. New York is seeing the lowest college enrollment numbers in 15 years, according to a 2024 report from the State Comptroller’s Office. News10NBC has reported on several colleges that have closed, citing low enrollment, including Wells College in Aurora and Medaille University in Buffalo.
However, Nazareth is seeing a growth in enrollment, adding about 100 students over the past couple of years. President Finney said new student enrollment is up 3% for the fall due to efforts from the marketing and admissions teams.
Students considering Nazareth can come over the summer for a one-day orientation program. University staff hopes this seals the deal for some students with multiple options.
“We are seeing an improvement in our melt numbers, which is the number of students who have committed to Nazareth who don’t end up coming,” said Joey Hitchcock, associate director of first year experience and students in transition. “We have seen that our efforts over the summer — from our marketing and communications to our outreach with the advising office to our SOAR program that we’ve implemented — and everything in between has paid dividends. So we are really excited about where we are in the momentum that we have going into this semester.”
The official numbers for the fall semester will come out in October. It’s expected to be more than 2,500 students.
Growth in international students amid downward trend
University leaders say Nazareth is also seeing an overall increase in international students, but a drop in international applicants, amid a nationwide decline. Last school year, colleges reported a 17% decrease in international students nationwide, according to the Institute of International Education. This school year, nearly 60% of colleges have reported a decrease in international applicants.
In June, Amanda Brady, Nazareth’s dean of admissions, told News10NBC that some federal policy changes are making an impact on international students’ interest in attending. Before recent regulations, the university saw more applications from international students.
“We had a variety of different programming with international students. We also saw more applications within international students and more of a willingness to come,” Brady said.
Move-in day festivities
New students will move in to Nazareth starting at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday. For returning students, residence halls open on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. To welcome new and returning students, Nazareth is organizing all kinds of events this weekend, hoping to ease any nerves.
“We’re setting them up with their academic advisors within their academic department on Friday,” Hitchcock said. “We are having them do service within their community on Friday as well, within their orientation groups to help build connections that way, and then plenty of evening events to help make connections in that area as well. So really easing that anxiety of living away from home for the first time.”
Classes begin on Monday at Nazareth.
Nazareth University welcomes new students, sees growth amid statewide trend of decreasing enrollment WHEC.com.
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