UMaine Welcomes New First-Year Class
Contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571
ORONO — The University of Maine opened its doors this morning to the Class of 2011, the largest first-year class in the history of the Orono campus. Some 2,105 new first-year students will begin classes, along with returning students, on Tuesday Sept. 4. The new class is approximately nine percent larger than the cohort that enrolled at UMaine last fall.
Nearly 82 percent of the new UMaine students are Maine residents, making this is the largest group of Mainers ever to enroll at the state’s flagship university at the start of an academic year.
Additionally, the number of new transfer students is up approximately 1.5 percent from a year ago, increasing from 499 to 506.
“These data reflect UMaine’s unique and vital role within our state,” says UMaine President Robert Kennedy. “Each year, more students are choosing UMaine for its quality and value. As we continue to enroll more students and graduate more students, UMaine’s impact on our state and the world beyond our borders grows. We are delighted to welcome so many talented, motivated students to our academic community.”
UMaine’s graduating classes in 2006 and 2007, numbering approximately 2,000 in each case, were the largest in the university’s history.
Kennedy also pointed out that the new students also bring strong academic credentials to UMaine. Members of the Class of 2011 have a 1077
average SAT score, which is consistent with averages reported for the past several years. That number is well above the national average of 1017.
Total enrollment for the fall semester is expected to be 12,100, as UMaine continues on the steady growth plane that began ten years ago. That number reflects a year-to-year total student population increase of 2.5 percent.
Some 775 UMaine faculty members, staff members and students are spending part of Friday participating in UMaine’s unique and award-winning “Maine Hello” program. UMaine greeters welcome the new students and their families as they arrive at residence halls, and they help out with the process of moving into residence hall rooms.
Students from 47 states and 62 countries will be part of the UMaine community this fall.
Enrollment numbers are preliminary until Oct. 15, the University of Maine System’s official enrollment reporting date.
Editors note: historical fist-year class size comparisons reflect adjustments to normalize comparisons by discounting those students who enrolled at University College of Bangor when it was affiliated with UMaine for several years, ending in 1995. Data reported in this news release reflect comparisons of students enrolled in programs based at UMaine in Orono. Please contact Joe Carr (581-3571) if you would like more details.