GALLOWAY, N.J. - Stockton welcomed its largest freshman class ever in September, with 1,569 new students, a 32 percent increase from 1,190 freshmen in fall 2016.

Dean of Enrollment Management John Iacovelli reported to the Board of Trustees Wednesday that another 988 undergraduate students also transferred to Stockton, bringing the total undergraduate enrollment to 8,275, a five percent increase over the fall 2016 enrollment of 7,854.

When graduate students are added, the total enrollment at Stockton is 9,216, the first time enrollment has exceeded 9,000.

Iacovelli said active recruiting and financial aid contributed to the freshmen class increase, which is impressive considering that many colleges are struggling to meet their enrollment goals.

“This is an exceptional achievement,” he said.

He said 52 percent of new freshmen said Stockton was their first choice. Major factors cited for choosing the university were the program in their intended major, financial aid, the campus visit and open house.

The number of new graduate students also increased, from 332 to 398 students. Stockton now offers a doctoral program in Organizational Leadership, a new Master’s Degree program in Data Science and Strategic Analytics, and a new program for alternate route teachers that can lead to a master’s degree.

The enrollment increase comes as Stockton prepares to open two new academic buildings on the Galloway Township campus and a new residential campus in Atlantic City in the fall of 2018.

Future growth on the Galloway campus is limited by Pinelands regulations, and the new campus in Atlantic City will provide more opportunities for growth to serve New Jersey students.

Summer enrollment held steady in 2017, but Iacovelli said he expects that to increase after the Atlantic City campus opens.

Stockton president Harvey Kesselman said this year’s class helps Stockton reach its goal of 10,000 students by 2021.

In other business, the board approved a slate of officers for the 2017-18 year. Madeleine Deininger remains chairwoman with Leo B. Schoffer, Esq., Vice Chair, Raymond Ciccone, Secretary, and Stanley Ellis, Ex-Officio.

The Stockton School of Education received $113,491 grant toward a three-year Building Teacher Leadership Capacity Grant from the New Jersey Department of Education. The funds are being used to develop the Stockton Mentoring Network with the Somers Point and Mainland Regional School Districts.

Stockton will lead a cohort of teachers and administrators to examine mentoring programs and other programs and practices that support beginning teachers. A cohort of 30 teachers will receive professional learning to prepare them to lead their districts’ mentoring programs.

Contact:
Diane D’Amico
Director of News and Media Relations
Galloway, N.J. 08205
Diane.D’Amico@Stockton.edu
(609) 652-4593
stockton.edu/media