"We are especially proud of this significant gain among our freshmen cohort for Fall 2021," said Dr. Ross Alexander, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. "This initial data indicates that UNA is well-positioned to have another record-breaking enrollment this semester. A number of folks on campus contributed to this very positive news, none more so than Julie Taylor, Executive Director of Admissions and Enrollment Innovation and the Admissions team."

Taylor and those in Admissions work most closely with incoming freshmen.

"We hear from so many of our incoming freshmen that they crave the in-person experience that UNA has to offer," she said. "UNA is able to provide high-quality academics as well as a first- rate experience for students, whether they are on-campus or online."

The 1,015 freshmen enrolled this fall indicate a 9.1 percent increase, and Alexander said he credits an increased scholarship budget, including the Computing Excellence Scholarship, eSports and Bass Fishing scholarships, and housing and meal plan scholarships; in addition to an overall prioritization of the Delores and Weldon Cole Honors College. Further, new strategies have been integrated into the enrollment plan for Early College and Dual Enrollment students who are increasingly choosing UNA.

UNA has experienced record enrollment for the past 10 semesters, even during the global pandemic when other higher education institutions have not fared as well. The final census date for Fall 2021 is October 29 in order to accommodate numerous online programs that use eight- week instructional formats, with new students enrolling for the first time in early October. Fall 2021 enrollment has already exceeded the record 8,361 registered in Fall 2020, and indicators point to a final enrollment figure well in excess of that number.