More than 640 first-year Denison University students begin their collegiate careers tomorrow morning (Aug.24) as they check into residence halls, finish registration, lunch with their parents and participate in opening convocation ceremonies at 3:30 p.m. in the Mitchell Center. During those ceremonies, President Dale T. Knobel and members of the faculty in academic regalia, will officially install the new arrivals as members of the Class of 2004.

For the sixth straight year, Denison's Office of Admissions has met its first-year enrollment target, enrolling 640-plus new students with some impressive academic statistics.

"The year ended with Denison receiving more than 3,000 applications," said Perry Robinson, director of admissions, adding, "which is one of the larger applicant pools for small, selective, independent colleges in the Midwest." (The acceptance rate was reduced to 68 percent from a high of 85 percent six years ago.)

For the second straight year, more than 50 percent of the incoming class are ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating classes.

Other academic credentials of Denison's Class of 2004 suggest a very successful and motivated group of students. The mean SAT score of 1206 exceeds by 40 points the combined mean score of five years ago. The mean ACT score remains at 27, which is the same as it was for the Class of 2003.

"This class comes from 43 states and 20 foreign nations," Robinson said. "It represents one of the most ethnically diverse class in Denison history with more than 100 students being either U.S. citizens of color or international students. Of this number, 41 are of African-American descent and 27 are international. Denison is firmly committed to the complementary and equally important goals of quality and diversity; and the Class of 2004 exemplifies the kind of success that can be achieved."

In addition to the academic quality and diversity, the Denison Class of 2004 also includes the largest number of alumni sons and daughters and siblings of graduates or current students in a decade: some 80 individual "legs or sibs" enrolled, representing 12 percent of the new class.

Robinson concluded, "The Class of 2004 enjoys a full compliment of athletes, artists, volunteers and student leaders to carry forward the Denison tradition of the balanced student."

Other orientation activities include a Saturday morning residential life community-building exercise, an afternoon Denison Community Association (DCA) community service project in conjunction with Newark social service agencies and a special address at 7:30 p.m. in Swasey Chapel on "A Place for Us: How to Make Society Civil and Democracy Strong" by political philosopher Benjamin Barber. Barber is director of the Walt Whitman Center for the Culture and Politics of Democracy at Rutgers University.

Also slated for Saturday are "Opening Night at the Roost" in Slayter Union, an outdoor "Movie on the Quad" --a drive-in viewing experience complete with popcorn but minus the cars!--and steel drummer Deighton Charlemagne entertaining in the Bandersnatch Coffeehouse.

Sunday's activities include the traditional Ice Cream Social from 6-8 p.m. hosted by the Denison Society of the Alumni and an opening chapel service at 7:00 p.m. led by the Rev. David T. Ball, director of religious life and service-learning.

Classes start Monday, Aug. 28, on the Denison campus. A 4:30 p.m. community cook-out and activities fair will feature music by Frogg E. Dreadlox.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575