By design, JWU welcomed a smaller freshman class in September 2007 than the year before — a critical step in shaping a student population positioned for greater academic and personal success. This graph demonstrates the systemwide percentage increase of performance of first-term freshmen (excluding transfer and international students) with a grade point average of 3.5 and above, compared to the September 2006 freshman class. First-term GPA is a strong predictor of overall academic performance and propensity to graduate. The success of this and future classes is defined, not by its size but rather by its potential.

Cost is a critical factor when a student makes a decision to attend and continue at an institution. A cornerstone of FOCUS 2011 is JWU’s commitment to helping students and families meet the demands of financing higher education. The university is striving to lower student debt by 25 percent starting with the 2007 freshman class.

Much of this has been accomplished by increasing need-based aid. Through reallocation of resources and careful planning in preparation for FOCUS 2011, 2007 freshmen received on average $2,600 more in JWU grants than in previous years. The university is forecasting an increase in need-based aid for the entering class of 2008.

Additionally, JWU is supplementing state programs (designed for high-need families), matching grants to state grant recipients for North Carolina and Colorado residents; and implementing only moderate tuition increases of three to four percent through 2011. (Most private institutions increase tuition by six percent annually.)

“And we want to do more,” says Marie Bernardo ‘92, university registrar and vice president of student services. “By working with Advancement and Alumni Relations, we hope to identify other ways in which we can boost our scholarship funds, and give our students even greater opportunity.”