By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

Nearly three quarters of the undergraduate students in the College of Health Sciences made the Dean’s List in the fall semester, student affairs officials reported this week.

Of the 1,000 undergraduate students in the College, 725, or 72.5 percent, made the list, which is defined as students having a 3.5 semester grade point average and being enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours.

The percentage was viewed as an impressive accomplishment for the students involved. Last fall, 656 students made the list.

“CHS students achieving higher rates of success in the classroom emphasizes the determination and talent our students bring to their goals as future healthcare professionals, and also the extraordinary teaching and mentoring skills of our faculty, staff, and student leaders in the college,” said Casey Shadix, PhD and the College’s Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. “It feels wonderful to be part of a powerful community united in our focus on improving healthcare in every imaginable way.”

Similarly, College officials reported high retention numbers for the fall class, as 98.3 percent of CHS first-year students returned and are continuing study with the College into the spring 2024 semester.

Contextually, preliminary numbers in September indicated that the University’s overall retention rate had reached a record level of 87 percent.

“These are extraordinary numbers — ones we should all be proud of,” said Scott Lephart, PhD and Dean of the College of Health Sciences. “It says incredible things about the caliber of student we are able to recruit and retain, as well as the environment we are able to provide for them. These classes are challenging, and to have such a high percentage of students achieving so well — it gives me great confidence in the future of healthcare in our Commonwealth.”