UAlbany Welcomes New Great Danes

ALBANY, N.Y. (Aug. 27, 2019) – UAlbany welcomed nearly 5,700 new Great Danes to campus last week, officially kicking off the 2019-20 academic year.

Of the new students, some 2,700 freshmen, from 28,000 applicants, make up the Class of 2023. Approximately 1,400 transfer students and 1,550 graduate students are also joining the campus community this fall.

Here’s some quick facts on the UAlbany’s Class of 2023:

• The overall high school average is 90 percent
• 235 students are enrolled as Presidential Scholars
• 130 students are joining the University’s Honors College
• Students come from 24 states and 16 foreign countries
• More than one third of students are from underrepresented groups

The majority of new students moved into their residence halls beginning Wednesday, with support from President Rodríguez, who greeted students and their families on Indian Quad Thursday afternoon.

UAlbany's new Great Danes formed in a "giant A" on Bob Ford Field after the Opening Convocation ceremony. (Photo by Patrick Dodson)

Move-in day festivities were followed by the University’s annual Opening Convocation ceremony on Friday afternoon. The ceremony celebrates UAlbany’s academic mission, introduces new students to UAlbany traditions and welcomes them to the campus community.

New students, family members, and University faculty and staff were in attendance at SEFCU Arena. Over the weekend, new students were invited to participate in in the annual Candlelighting Ceremony, glow party and Great Danetopia.

The fall semester brings more than just new student faces. Also joining the campus community are more than 27 new full-time faculty members. This includes both tenure-track faculty and lecturers/visiting professors appointed across the institution.

With the fall semester now in full swing, here’s a small sample of upcoming campus events:

• Purple Pantry Grand Opening, Wednesday, Sept. 4
• The University Speaker Series with Dan Rather, Friday, Sept. 6
• UAlbany Football’s first home game, Saturday, Sept. 7
• ACE Sports Exhibit, UAlbany Museum exhibit open through the semester, with an artists’ reception on Friday, Sept. 13
• NYS Writers Institute Book Festival, Saturday, Sept. 14
• The fifth annual Massry lecture with Chris Corrado ’81, Monday, Sept. 23
• Homecoming 2019, Oct. 18 – 20

UAlbany is also continuing its 175th anniversary celebrations through the end of this semester.

Photos: Patrick Dodson

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