A record number of freshman applicants - nearly 22,000 -- resulted in a quality class of 2,400 entering in fall 2008, with a mean high school grade point average of 90 and mean SAT/ACT score of about 1150, 130 points above the national average.
UAlbany's total undergraduate population numbered 13,243 in fall 2008, of which 23 percent were students of color, 8 percent were from out of state, and 2 percent were international students.
To further build the success of student recruitment efforts, the University launched its first-ever branding initiative in April, "The World Within Reach," designed to capture and powerfully communicate the world of opportunities that exist at UAlbany.
Major Highlights
Julita Patrosz, a sophomore biochemistry and molecular biology major and Honors College student, was named a recipient of the 2008 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship.
Students of Albany Against Cancer raised over $95,000 for cancer research, ranking in the top 20 nationally for dollars raised in the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life" effort. More than 1,100 students registered for the 24-hour event in March 2008.
The Class of 2008 left its mark on campus by raising more than $16,300 toward the purchase of a new ambulance for the student-run Five Quad Volunteer Ambulance Service. A record number of UAlbany seniors - 484 - pledged donations for their Senior Class Gift.
More than 50 UAlbany students showcased their research on topics ranging from cloning to terrorism at the fifth annual Undergraduate Research Conference.
Danes After Dark, the University's late-night programming initiative developed to coordinate and enhance late nights on weekends while promoting healthy and positive lifestyles, won a 2008 State University of New York Outstanding Student Affairs Program Award.
Students Michael Healy and Paul Porter were selected as National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Undergraduate Fellows, a program for undergraduate students seeking to explore and better understand the field of student affairs and/or higher education.
UAlbany's Middle Earth Peer Assistance Program received three major national awards during the BACCHUS Peer Education Network National Conference in Atlanta, Ga. Jennifer Roman, a senior and Middle Earth President, won the Outstanding Student Award, while Middle Earth won Best Program/ Event Award for a theater presentation relating to Alcohol Awareness Week, and Best School Exhibit Table Award.
