The Class of 2022 is Indiana University East’s largest and most diverse incoming class.

Members of the Class of 2022 attended the First Year Convocation held August 17.

Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Michelle Malott said this year’s freshman class is following the upward trend of IU East’s overall enrollment.

“Students are choosing IU East as a destination campus because they can have everything they want in their college experience right here in Richmond,” Malott said. “We have a welcoming campus that provides top-quality academics, a dynamic campus life, and nationally recognized faculty. Plus, we’re a very affordable option.”

Freshman students sign the class book during the First Year Convocation held August 17. The ceremony is the kickoff to new student’s academic experience at IU East.

Students started the first day of the fall semester on August 20.

The week before classes began there were approximately 120 freshman students on campus for IU East’s Extreme Summer JUMPSTART, a program giving students the opportunity to get a head start on settling into college life and getting set up for academic success. On August 17th, the Class of 2022 was welcomed to campus during the First-Year Convocation Ceremony. The event is a ceremonial beginning to a new student’s academic experience at IU East, where students recite the IU Promise, receive their IU pin and sign their class book.

Malott said the convocation ceremony, along with other on-campus experiences such as New Student Orientation and JUMPSTART, help prepare incoming students for a successful start to their college experience.

“We are excited to welcome this incoming class,” Malott said. “Everyone on campus is committed to helping support and guide these students as they pursue their academic and career aspirations on their path towards earning an IU East degree.”

This fall’s freshman class has 455 degree-seeking students enrolled for classes. The second largest freshman class was in 2014 with 413 freshman students enrolled.

On average, the members of the Class of 2022 are 18.8 years old. However, there is a range in the ages among freshman students. The youngest is 16 while the oldest is 45.

In addition, the number of domestic minority students increased 8.3 percent over last year.

As a class, the average incoming G.P.A. is 3.22. Within the Class of 2022, there are 121 students who received academic honors diplomas from their high schools. Of the incoming class, 110 students reported being 21st Century Scholars.