The numbers are in and the University of Lethbridge has once again achieved a new standard for enrolment, growing to 8,767 students at its Lethbridge and Calgary campuses, an increase of 0.5 per cent from the previous year.

“We consistently talk about managing growth and increasing our student numbers in a balanced and supportive manner,” says Kathleen Massey, the U of L’s associate vice-president (students). “These figures support the philosophy that planned, gradual enrolment growth allows us to continue to provide an unparalleled personal academic experience.”

The strongest areas of growth for the U of L came in graduate student enrolment and the Indigenous student population, while numbers were also up in the number of new transfer students to the University and overall undergraduate students.

While still comprised largely of undergraduate students, the University is one of the country’s top research universities and has been consistently adding graduate programming and subsequently graduate students. The U of L currently has 623 graduate students, up from 596 last year and 575 just two years prior.

“Our graduate student enrolment increased 4.5 per cent this past year and that follows an increase of 3.7 per cent the previous year,” says Massey. “That speaks to the quality of the programs available and our faculty, who are conducting the kind of innovative research today’s students want to be involved in.”

The University’s Indigenous student population also maintained its pattern of steady growth, with 513 students now choosing the U of L, an increase of 4.3 per cent. In 2017, a 2.5 per cent increase was realized.

“This is an area of growth we’re really excited about and one that we have worked hard to achieve,” says Massey. “The U of L is in the heart of traditional Blackfoot territory and we feel a great sense of responsibility for being a leading voice in reconciliation initiatives and creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for all Indigenous learners.”

In terms of new transfer students, the U of L added another 31 students to reach 791, an increase of 4.1 per cent. This marks successive years of increased new transfer student enrolment following last year’s 4.7 per cent increase. Prior to that, new transfer student numbers had not gone up since 2010.

“Our reputation as a top-rated undergraduate and research university is continuing to grow and as we near the opening of the new state-of-the-art Science and Academic Building, more students are making the U of L their school of choice,” adds Massey. “There is so much activity right now – it’s an exciting time to be a University of Lethbridge student.”