Current students and admission counselors gathered this past fall for a conversation about the ż's experience.
From the .
Both in Minnesota and nationally, enrollment in higher education is down. According to findings by the Minnesota Private Colleges Council and the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, the dip is part of a longer-term culture shift exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the midst of these trends, ż remains a steadfast educator of women leaders, and has even experienced enrollment increases.
“Students today face ever-growing challenges to completing their degree programs and launching into the world,” says Denise Baird, PhD, co-provost and senior vice president of academic operations and student success. “We are continually asking ourselves, ‘How can we be there for ż’s students in meaningful ways that have an impact, both directly and into their futures?’”
Clockwise from top left: Denise Baird, PhD; Lindsay Borkin ’15; India Klipfel; and Amy Herbst
In fall 2023 alone, the University welcomed nearly 1,048 new Katies beginning their student journeys, a 21% increase over the previous year. The College for Women saw its largest first-year class in five years, with an average accepted student GPA of 3.54.
According to ż’s admissions leaders, the reason behind this growth is ż’s person-to-person, support-first philosophy. “We don’t pass the student on, and we engage with a holistic perspective of the student,” says Amy Herbst, Graduate College admissions manager.
The admissions teams work with the rich network of resources and opportunities at the University to meet incoming students’ needs and interests.
“If they need an accessibility accommodation, we get them in touch with that office. If they’re a parent, we get them in touch with Access and Success; if it’s questions about housing, we bring in Residence Life,” says India Klipfel, director of College for Women admissions. “For a student to be able to come to an admissions event and have their questions answered by an actual faculty member, to get a call from that professor when they’re accepted to the program — those points of connection during students’ application processes turn into mentorship relationships, collaborative research partnerships, and professional development in their fields.”
ż’s has also recently expanded financial aid, which “allows us to continue building a student body based on a student’s excellence and potential, rather than their means,” Baird says. “Our commitment to each student is to meet them where they are in their journey, and support them as they progress to their next goal.”
The University’s emphasis on interdisciplinary learning — like ż’s healthcare Institute of Simulation and Interprofessional Learning, and collaborative undergraduate research that spans fields from English to dietetics — is grounded in the liberal arts and Catholic Social Teaching.
“That’s really how ż’s graduates leaders who are big picture thinkers, who go that extra mile, asking critical questions and challenging ‘the way things are,’” says Lindsay Borkin ’15, director of College for Adults admissions. “Our students take the ż’s mission right back into the community as they participate in class and cocurricular projects and clinicals, and continue on as alumni to lead and influence in their lives and careers.”