Wilkes University welcomes students for the 2024-25 academic year

WILKES-BARRE — Wilkes University kicked off the 2024-25 academic year with “Welcome Weekend” — Aug. 22-25.

The weekend of events was a prelude to the start of classes on Monday, Aug. 26.

Move-in for first-year and transfer students started at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22. Returning students moved in on Saturday and Sunday.

“Wilkes University is proud to welcome the largest incoming class in the last five years,” said President Greg Cant. “Our whole team is thrilled to see our first-year and returning students move in for the start of the academic year. When our students come back, they bring a renewed energy and remind the faculty and staff why we’ve chosen careers in higher education.”

“Welcome Weekend” featured activities for first-year students including movie night, Colonel Carnival, pizza wars, drag bingo, on- and off-campus quests, friendship bracelet making and more.

First-year students also volunteered at local sites including Nesbitt Park, Building Blocks Learning Center, Hillside Farms and the Back Mountain Memorial Library.

The new class

Wilkes’ Classes of 2028 and 2030 have approximately 565 new students. In addition, 70 full-time transfer students and more than 650 new graduate students will attend the University. This brings the total number of students enrolled in all of Wilkes’ programs to more than 5,000.

Highlights from the first-year class:

• The incoming class features students from 25 states.

• Over 300 students are from Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, earning a Hometown Advantage Award.

• 45% are the first in their families to pursue a four-year degree.

• 30% of the new class are student-athletes.

• Six first-year students and one sophomore will join the Bonner Leaders Program, bringing the total to 24 participants. The first cohort of Bonner Leaders will graduate in May 2025.

• The Honors Program welcomes 42 incoming first-year students, two transfer students and one first-year international student. With nine current students who were accepted this year, the current number of honors students totals 164.

• With this year’s 115 new students, the Barre Scholars Program grows to 289 students.

• 68 students from Nepal will begin their studies at Wilkes.

In addition, 10 new faculty members will mark their first semester at Wilkes, teaching classes in accounting, biology and earth systems science, business, communication and media studies, education, global cultures, nursing, performing arts, pharmacy practice and psychology/neuroscience.

New programs

With a focus on innovation, new program launches this year include:

• A name change for the communication studies major to communication and media studies and four new concentrations including media and documentary production; public relations and professional communication; media and cultural studies; and news and sports reporting.

• The health promotion major, aimed at students who want to pursue a career in health and wellness, combines coursework from the education, nursing and pharmacy departments. Classes will help students gain the knowledge and skills needed to sit for the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC) Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam.

• The interdisciplinary Africana Studies minor focuses on the diverse cultures, histories and experiences of the peoples of Africa and the African diaspora.

Campus life

The facilities team at Wilkes faces the unique challenge of caring for a campus footprint featuring a mix of historic mansions and modern facilities. The summer months provided an opportunity to meet the challenge of some significant maintenance projects on campus.

• University Towers, the Marts Center and Evans Hall all underwent roof replacement work. Exterior repairs and sealing work were completed at University Towers and the air conditioning at Evans Hall was refurbished. The windows in Conyngham Hall were replaced for the first time in the building’s history.

• Student Government stepped in to fund upgrades at Ross Hall and that building will now be used as office and meeting space for some of the 70-plus clubs on campus.

• The University launched a partnership with Uwill to provide access to mental health care for its graduate students who often juggle a variety of responsibilities including full-time careers and families in addition to their studies. Currently enrolled graduate students may access up to four solution-focused teletherapy sessions and other wellness programming that’s secure, confidential and free of charge. Undergraduate students have access to mental health support through the Counseling Center on campus or the 24/7 CHAT line.

• The winning strategy for athletics includes the announcement of women’s wrestling, bringing the total of NCAA Division III sports on campus to 24. The recruiting process has already begun, and competition will begin with the 2025 season. New lighting at Ralston Field will allow the baseball team to expand both its schedule and its roster. Colonels baseball has added a JV team and nearly doubled its roster.

• The Sidhu School of Business and Leadership launches the academic year with Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation for its accounting, management, marketing corporate finance, financial investments, sports management and master’s of business administration programs. AACSB Accreditation is the largest and most widely recognized business accreditation in the world, with less than 6% of the 16,000+ business programs worldwide earning accreditation through the rigorous review process.

Learn more at www.wilkes.edu.