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BW welcomes 2023 incoming class

Bringing YJ4L enthusiasm to campus, a large and diverse class of 730 first-year students joined the Baldwin Wallace community during Week of Welcome.

Week-of-Welcome-family-photo.jpg

They hail from 27 states and have impressive scholastic achievement as well as leadership, service and co-curricular involvement. They bring exceptional talent and accomplishments to the BW community, comprised of 3,200 students enrolled in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.

Among notable statistics, 22% of the first-year class are students of color, and 94 students are members of the BW Honors Program. Nearly one-third of the students are the first in their families to pursue a four-year degree, a reflection of BW’s ongoing commitment to first-generation college students.

An inaugural group of student-athletes will be joining their Yellow Jacket peers as members of BW’s newest sports – men’s and women’s bowling and women’s STUNT.

Also beginning their first semester at BW are 92 transfer students and 127 graduate students.

  • Students unpacking vehicles during move-in
    Parents and other family members may take the lead in helping unload vehicles, but sometimes canine "siblings" join in to help first-year students settle into their new homes.
  • Two students use their fingers to show three for the incoming class year
    When it comes to welcoming a new class to campus, everyone lends a hand – even so much as to show the incoming class year ending in three.
  • students and family members take a fun selfie
    If an arch can be a pathway to a new beginning, then this student's future is sure to be a vibrant success.
  • photo at BW Multicultural Mixer
    The Multicultural Mixer brings students together to celebrate BW's diverse campus community, where abundant resources, events and programs are available throughout the year.
  • Having fun at BW's Week of Welcome
    Laughter, fun and new friendships come naturally at BW's Week of Welcome.

Big class ready to connect, engage, grow

"We are so pleased and proud to welcome this large and accomplished incoming class to our campus community," said Dr. Scott Schulz, vice president for enrollment management. "Our admission and financial aid teams work hard to showcase the BW community. My sincere thanks to them and to our faculty and staff, who met with students and families throughout the year. They highlight BW’s outstanding academics and our robust and engaging student life programs, where students can connect, engage and grow throughout their time at BW.”

MulticulturalFestival.jpg
The Multicultural Mixer brought a warm and welcoming presence to incoming students of color at Week of Welcome.

Dr. Timeka Rashid, vice president for student affairs, works closely with the admission team as recruitment partners to ensure that prospective students have a successful orientation and Week of Welcome experience. But that is only the start of what Rashid and her team do. They are central to providing students with meaningful outside-of-classroom experiences that complement their academic studies.

"We want each student to have an amazing college experience," said Rashid. "And to celebrate the start of the new year, we are having an all-campus Convocation Celebration on Thursday, Aug. 24," she noted. "This special event is just one of the many ways we unite in sharing our YJ4L pride. It’s going to be a wonderful and extraordinary year!"

2023 INCOMING CLASS SNAPSHOT

  • Business was cited as the main area of interest by 22% of the students, followed by the sciences at 18%, social sciences and humanities at 17%, the Conservatory of Music and performing arts at 16% and health sciences at 15%. Interdisciplinary programs and education account for the remaining 12%.

  • The average weighted high school grade point average was 3.77.

  • In addition to Ohio, 26 other states are represented in the incoming class. They include (in order of highest percentage) Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, Michigan and Texas.

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