Welcome Class of 2014

The State University of New York at New Paltz will welcome an academically talented and diverse group of 1,120 first-year students to the College community when it opens its residence hall doors for its annual Moving In Day at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 19.

L. David Eaton, vice president for enrollment management, said the College selected its fall 2010 freshman class from a pool of more than 15,045 applicants, which represents the 20th consecutive year that New Paltz has received the most new student applications among all SUNY comprehensive colleges. This fall, the College accepted only 37 percent of its freshman and 36 percent of transfer applicants.

The new students will be joined over the weekend by 645 transfer students, for a total of 1,765 new students, which is consistent with previous years and the College’s goal to not grow enrollment.

The academic quality of New Paltz students continues to be exceptional. This year, freshmen have a high school average of 91 and a combined SAT score of 1170, while the transfer students enter with a 3.4 GPA. More than 75 percent of the class is entering with advanced standing, either through advanced placement, international baccalaureate or college course work.

Eaton said that 100 percent of New Paltz’s accepted freshman class comes from the top two of five SUNY quality groups. This fall, freshmen in the highest SUNY selectivity group make up about 40 percent of the entering class – up from 20 percent in 2002.

Lisa Jones, dean of admissions, said that the Class of 2014 is not only defined by its academic quality, but also by the level of diversity. The College continues to attract qualified students from all backgrounds. Of the first-year students reporting their ethnicity, 27 percent come from traditionally underrepresented groups.

“New Paltz is very good at attracting a diverse student body and this year is no exception – in fact, this is one our most diverse groups ever. We feel that this is an essential element of what makes New Paltz such a well-regarded and attractive institution and is an attribute that makes us very proud,” said Jones.

Fall Convocation

On Friday, Aug. 20, in the Athletic & Wellness Center, new students attended Fall Convocation at noon, which simultaneously introduces the arriving class to formal academic ceremonies while featuring esteemed New Paltz faculty.

» See this year’s Photo Highlights

This year, Nancy E. Johnson of the English Department was the featured speaker. The title of Johnson’s Convocation Address is “A Revolution of the Mind.” Johnson, who was honored last May with the 2010 Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, joined the New Paltz faculty in 1998 with a focus on 18th century English literature. She quickly emerged as an outstanding teacher, both in her scholarly field of 18th-century English literature and in a wide array of other specialties, including women in literature, literary criticism, early American literature and first-year composition.