Below are highlighted efforts from the 2023-2024 academic year spearheaded within the Division to achieve our goals of supporting the student success journey for all Huskies.

Fast Facts:

• Undergraduate Admissions reported the highest application rate on record with 55,470 applicants.
• The Office of Student Financial Aid processed a total of 67,427 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) submissions.
• One Stop Student Services Office engaged with over 90,000 interactions in the first 6 months of operation.
• Orientation Services hosted 6,617 first year and transfer students during the summer of 2023.
• The One Card Office printed 22,365 UConn IDs.
• Residential Life housed over 12,000 students on the Storrs campus.
• Dining Services served 3,222,041 meals in the dining halls.
• The medical team in Student Health and Wellness completed 24,254 appointments serving 8,261 unique students.
• The Student Union and Event Services hosted 15,442 events.
• 19,017 unique users utilized the Student Recreation Center.
• Office of Community Standards held over 13,000 educational conversations with students.
• The Registrar’s Office conferred approximately 8,500 degrees.

Institutional Match refers to the alignment of students’ skills and needs and the University. A strong institutional match includes students feeling a sense of belonging and comfort during campus visits and interactions with their peers, faculty, and staff during the recruitment, application, and enrollment process. Further, students experience alignment between their academic goals and the academic programs offered on campus. Other indicators of a strong institutional match include financial aid packages that meet their needs, a campus culture that resonates with their values, opportunities for extracurricular involvement match their preferences, and the geographic location is suitable for their lifestyle.

• Record Enrollment:
• • Undergraduate Admissions saw the largest number of admission applications and the highest percentage of non-Connecticut students in the university’s history, successfully supporting the institution’s educational mission.
• Enhanced Recruitment, Enrollment, and Orientation Strategies:
  • Undergraduate Admissions increased efforts to recruit international students, including focused travel and the hiring of new staff. Additionally, the daily visit experience for prospective students and families was improved through the introduction of school/college visit programs and the renovation of the residence hall showcase room.
  • Orientation Services organized a total of 130 programs (104 in summer and 26 in winter) across various campuses, ensuring that both first-year and transfer students, as well as their families, were welcomed and integrated into the university community.
• Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives:
  • Undergraduate Admissions emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion by training staff on implicit bias, targeting outreach to diverse students, and enhancing marketing efforts to ensure access and inclusion for all populations, despite challenges posed by the Supreme Court’s decision on race and ethnicity in admissions.

Essential Needs refers to the fundamental requirements of students to live and learn while enrolled at UConn including food, shelter, and financial stability.  Supporting these needs enable students to focus on fully engaging in their classes, work experiences, and social activities.

• Financial Aid Distribution:
  • OSFAS Disbursed a total of $43.4 million in Pell Grants to 7,589 students, significantly aiding low-income families in accessing higher education.
  • Facilitated the disbursement of $176.6 million in Direct Loans to 14,840 students, providing essential financial resources to a broader student population.
• Food Security:
  • One Card successfully collaborated with the Stamford campus to create a new hybrid meal plan that allows students to utilize their meal plans at participating off-campus merchants, enhancing dining flexibility and access for students.
  • Achieved a significant increase in meal plan sales, with 10,700 residential meal plans sold in Fall 2023, marking the second highest sales record in the department’s history.
  • Dining Services successfully operated the Husky Harvest food pantry, serving 3,305 unduplicated households and 6,772 individuals, addressing food insecurity within the UConn community. Additionally, the Pop-Up Food Pantry served 1,052 participants across two semesters.
• Housing:
  • Residential Life housed over 12,000 students at Storrs and 480 at Stamford, ensuring a safe and supportive living environment.
  • Planned for the opening of the new residence hall, Connecticut Hall, which will accommodate 652 students in suite-style living. This expansion reflects the department’s commitment to enhancing student housing options and improving the overall residential experience.

Academic Progress refers to students’ advancement and development in their studies, including fulfilling course requirements, making timely progress towards completing their degree, and meeting academic standards set by the institution.

• One Stop Student Services opened in January 2024. In the first 6 months of operation, staff engaged in over 90,000 interactions with students and families. These interactions included 38,502 emails sent, 50,966 phone calls answered, and 2,279 in-person students/families served.
• The Office of the Registrar successfully implemented new class scheduling and catalog software, which is expected to enhance efficiency and responsiveness in managing academic offerings.
• The Office of the Registrar revamped the midterm grading process to improve the grading experience for students, faculty, and advisors to better monitor student performance and academic progress.

Health and Safety encompasses the programs, procedures, and practices put in place to promote the well-being and safety of all Huskies. This includes maintaining safe facilities, providing health resources, promoting mental health, offering wellness programs, and adhering to regulations to create a secure and conducive learning and living environment for students, faculty, and staff.

• Physical health and safety:
  • Student Health and Wellness Medical (SHaW) Care Team served 8,261 unique students for a total of 24,254 encounters.
  • SHaW expanded services to the Regional Campuses, which included the initiation of nursing/medical appointments at these locations, thereby increasing access to healthcare for more students.
  • Office of Community Standards received 4,654 student conduct referrals leading to 2,584 cases heard with over 13,000 student meetings held over the course of the year.
  • Residential Life successfully addressed issues of student welfare and safety by responding to 1,470 conduct, bias, and medical cases.
  • Increased use of the Student Recreation Center to 773,623 visits, a 5.4% increase over the previous year. This included 17,965 unique student users (an increase of 6%) and 19,017 total users (an increase of 8%).
• Emotional health and safety:
  • SHaW Mental Health Team provided therapeutic services to 2,394 students on the Storrs and Regional campuses for a total of 18,177 encounters.
  • SHaW was recognized by the Healthcare Equality Index as a National Leader for providing inclusive healthcare for LGBTQ+ students, highlighting the department’s commitment to diversity and equity in healthcare services.
  • SHaW became a recognized JED campus, signifying a comprehensive system of programs, policies, and support for student mental health, substance use and suicide prevention efforts.

Real-World Relevance refers to the practical applicability and significance of academic knowledge, skills, and experiences in the context of their future careers and daily lives outside of UConn. It involves connecting classroom learning to real-life situations, ensuring that what students learn is meaningful, useful, and prepares them for the challenges and opportunities they'll encounter in their professional and personal endeavors. This process allows students to commit fully to their academic and career path and gain practical experience in creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

• The Division of Student Life and Enrollment employed approximately 2000 student employees across all departments. This supported their financial stability, as well as the development of skills critical for future employment.
• The Office of Student Financial Aid Services hosted the 2^nd Annual Job Fair to increase connection between students and employers.
• The Office of Student Financial Aid Services facilitated Work-Study employment for 879 students, enabling them to earn $2.1 million collectively, thus supporting their education through part-time employment and gaining practical, transferable skills.

Belonging refers to a sense of feeling accepted, valued, and supported within the community. This includes feeling positive connections to peers, faculty and staff, as well as with the physical campus. For college students, a sense of belonging is crucial for improved health and well-being, satisfaction with their college experience, and overall academic success.

• Student Union and Event Services hosted 15,442 events engaging over 1,230,000 members of the community.
• Residential Life staff interacted with over 11,000 students as part of the Residential Learning Model, an approach that supports academic success, personal development, and social engagement through intentional outreach and peer mentorship.
• UConn Recreation grew student engagement in digital and social marketing campaigns, including a 33% increase in Instagram followers and a 22% increase in UConn Rec App users.
• One Card Office worked with university-wide stakeholders to modify the UConn ID template, placing the chosen name on the front of the ID. This change reflects a commitment to inclusivity and student identity.
• Community Standards spearheaded the development of educational programs focused on bias education to foster a more inclusive campus environment and enhance student engagement.
• Residential Life utilized new tools to track student connections and conduct assessments to identify areas for improvement in student engagement.
• Dining services collaborated with other university departments and external partners to host events such as the “Student Health Services Health Fair” and “Spring Fling,” which fostered community interaction and increased student engagement.
• Dining Services ensured that all students had access to meals that met their dietary needs, promoting inclusivity and a sense of belonging. This included over 200 students with medical dietary needs and Kosher and Halal specialty kitchens.
• UConn Recreation hosted community events including OOzeball, Sunset Yoga, and the Husky Run & Ruck Veterans’ Day Road Race. These events brought students together, creating shared experiences that enhance their sense of belonging.
• Orientation Services collaborated with the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and Cultural Centers to incorporate DEI initiatives in the orientation experience, ensuring that all students felt represented and supported.
• Orientation Services restructured the first-year program to include interactive tours of departments and offices to help students familiarize themselves with campus resources, reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of belonging.

In addition to the programmatic and service delivery accomplishments above, the Division of Student Life and Enrollment prioritizes organizational effectiveness. Organization effectiveness refers to the extent to which the Division efficiently and successfully achieves its mission and goals in enhancing the overall student experience, fostering personal growth, and supporting academic achievement and persistence within the university community. This involves effective resource allocation, clear communication, collaboration, high quality HR practices, access to essential tools to effectively perform tasks, and supporting professional development.