The University of Tennessee Health Science Center kicked off the back-to-school season by welcoming 984 new students to campus. Eight orientations were held to acclimate the 127 Dentistry, 97 Graduate Health Sciences, 229 Health Professions, 169 Medicine, 187 Nursing, and 175 Pharmacy students to campus.
The new fall class had an increase in enrollment of 41 students overall from 2016, with four out of the six colleges showing higher enrollment. The College of Nursing showed the largest jump in enrollment with a 21 percent increase from 2016. The fall 2017 entering class represents students from 525 different universities and institutions. Over the last five years, UTHSC has seen a continued increase in total student enrollment among all colleges.
Students are representing as many as 33 states with 74 percent of the new students coming from Tennessee. The largest representation came from Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. Internationally, 11 countries are represented with 3 percent of our students coming from abroad.
Each college held separate welcoming activities for their students, including meet-and-greet events throughout Midtown and Downtown Memphis. An annual welcome-back student cookout will be held for all enrolled students in September.
“Our new students join UTHSC with a variety of prior experiences in leadership, research, and community service,” Susan Davies, PhD, associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services of UTHSC said. “They present outstanding academic credentials and a desire to transform the future of health care.”
Since 1911, UTHSC has educated more than 57,000 health care professionals. This include 75 percent of the dentists, 40 percent of the pharmacists, and 40 percent of the physicians practicing in the state of Tennessee today.
Figures for the fall 2017 entering class are preliminary and will be finalized mid to end September