Another Record-Breaking Freshman Class Welcomed to UVA-Wise

For the second consecutive year, the incoming freshman class at The University of Virginia's College at Wise is the largest in the College's history. Classes begin today.

Freshman enrollment is up 4 percent from last year's total of 346. Overall enrollment is up 5 percent for a current total of 1,637 for the Wise and Abingdon campuses.

The 360-member freshman class currently registered also boasts the highest average SAT scores and grade point averages in the College's history. Twenty-four percent of the students rank in the top 10 percent of their high school class, 53 percent in the top quarter, and 84 percent in the top half. The Class of 2007 has an average high school GPA of 3.4.

ÒThe incoming class is not only impressive in its size, but in the quality of the studentsâ academic record," said UVA-Wise Chancellor Steven Kaplan.

Russell Necessary, the Collegeâs Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management, said the Collegeâs 1999 name change, growing national recognition, and award-winning student recruitment literature, have contributed significantly to the 27 percent enrollment growth experienced during the last three years.

ÒI am extraordinarily proud of both the quality and quantity of this year's freshman class," Necessary said. ÒOnce again we are positioned as the college of choice for students from far Southwest Virginia." Sixty-three percent of freshman hail from Southwest Virginia, a 3 percent increase over 2002.

ÒStudents in the Southwest Virginia region and beyond are attracted by the total program we offer, our strong academic programs, our dynamic student life experience, and co-curricular programs," Necessary said.

Ninety-four percent of the freshman class are Virginia residents. Three percent of this year's freshman are from Central Virginia, 6 percent from Fairfax County, 9 percent from Northern Virginia, 4 percent from Richmond, 4 percent from Shenandoah, 5 percent from Southside and 7 percent from Tidewater. Another 6 percent of the freshman class comes to UVA-Wise from eight other states and two foreign countries.

Additionally, more students are choosing to live on the UVA-Wise campus. All residential housing spots are full; 573 students live in College residence halls making 2003 a record-breaking year for campus housing.

UVA-Wise ranks eighth among the nation's top public liberal arts colleges in the list compiled by U.S. News and World Report.