President Calvin O. Butts III welcomed incoming students to SUNY Old Westbury during the fall convocation in September

“This year we are pleased to welcome more than 740 first-year students and about 800 transfer students,” said Dr. Butts. “This is the largest entering class in the history of the College of Old Westbury.”

A total of 5,088 students are enrolled, an increase of  almost four percent over last year, according to Mary Marquez Bell, vice president for enrollment services. There are 4,786 undergraduates. Graduate students total 302, about an eight percent increase compared to 2017.

The continuing and returning number of students increased by 7.5 percent

and the number of first time college students increased by about thirteen percent.

Marquez Bell attributed the rise in enrollment to an improved application process, the recruitment of population segments that may yield higher enrollment, and an increase in the graduate level offerings.

President Butts named a few changes that will take place this semester. “We are on our way to build a new science building,” he said. “A place where you can really be rooted in the STEM [Science, Technology, Education, Mathematics] profession.”

“We are the most diverse campus in the state university system,” Dr. Butts added. “Students are here from all walks of life.”

In September it was announced that SUNY OW will receive the 2018 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award. It will be one of only five campuses from the state university system that have been recognized.

President Butts reminded the incoming class that SUNY OW is filled with several resources: “If you don’t write well go to the Writing Center, if you’re not good with numbers go to the Math Learning Center, if you’re looking for a job go to the Career Planning and Development Center, go the Student Success Center, take advantage of every opportunity that is available to you.”