September 24, 2002 - Trinity set a new record in enrollment, with more than 1,700 students on campus this fall. This number far surpasses Trinity’s previous highest enrollment total of 1,565 set in 1998.

With 177 new freshmen in the College of Arts and Sciences, Trinity experienced a 40% increase in the freshman class over last year, and welcomed the largest first-year class in 20 years. Members of the freshman class represent 18 states, including Massachusetts, California, Texas and Vermont. Among the freshmen, more than 30 countries are represented - either the student or her parents were born abroad. A large number of transfers, combined with returning students, resulted in a total of 517 undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest enrollment since 1983.

Linda Kirby, vice president for marketing and admissions, credits several factors for the remarkable increase in the freshmen class. "We have a terrific staff and they concentrated strategically on converting inquiries into applicants, and applicants into confirmed students," she noted. "We increased our level of personal contact with students - e-mail has really been a tremendous way for us to stay in touch with prospective students." Kirby added that the Trinity Center for Women and Girls in Sports made a significant impact on recruiting: "Whether a student is a scholar-athlete, or someone looking for recreational facilities, the Trinity Center is a very appealing draw for prospective students. This is a competitive marketplace; we have very strong academics and internships, but facilities do make a difference to today’s students." She added that she expects the Trinity Center to continue to boost enrollments, and will be a particular draw for residential students.

In addition to the College of Arts and Sciences, Trinity’s other schools exceeded enrollment goals. The School of Education has an enrollment of nearly 500 students, an all-time record in the program’s history. A revitalized focus on K-12 urban education and intensive recruiting initiatives generated record enrollments.

The School of Professional Studies set a record enrollment of more than 760 students, far surpassing the previous record of 675 in 1995. Kirby credits the enrollment boost to the new M.B.A. program launched this fall, new corporate relationships, a special program for instructional aides in the D.C. Public Schools, and greater recognition of Trinity in the workplace as a college that offers quality professional development and a convenient class schedule.

Trinity College is a comprehensive university in Washington, D.C., offering a full range of undergraduate and graduate programs for students of all ages, with a special emphasis on women's education in the College of Arts and Sciences, and professional development in the coeducational School of Professional Studies and School of Education. The Trinity Center for Women and Girls in Sports, a state of the art athletics complex, will be dedicated on Saturday, November 23, 2002.

For more information about enrolling at Trinity, or referring a prospective student, contact the Admissions Office at 202/884-9400, 1-800-492-6882, admissions@trinitydc.edu. A schedule of open houses and the admissions travel calendar is on Trinity’s Admissions web site.

For more information about Trinity’s enrollment increase, contact Ann Pauley at 202/884-9725, pauleya@trinitydc.edu.