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Lee Business School students are sweeping up awards — and job offers — at national competitions. 51�ԹϺ��� teams have won the Institute of Management Accountants Student Case Competition four years in a row while others have brought home trophies for competitions sponsored by marketing, tax advising, mining and other industry associations. Faculty advisors and travel funds help these student groups get to the competition, and once they’re there, they show off how well their 51�ԹϺ��� education prepares them for their professions.

To be successful as a university — and to fulfill our community focused mission — we need to first build a college-going culture. That’s why we’ve bolstered early outreach programs — visiting schools, attending family nights, and hosting programs that demystify college and make it within reach for all. We’ve also launched the “Young Rebels” program, which brings dozens of our youth programs under one umbrella. 

This fall, 51�ԹϺ��� became one of a select few U.S. universities to offer a robust slate of classes exploring mariachi, a cultural Mexican folk music. The College of Fine Arts also introduced a new bachelor’s degree in creative practice. Other new offerings across campus include athletic training, counselor education and supervision, and water resources. For those thinking ahead, 51�ԹϺ��� will launch a new bachelor’s in neuroscience in 2025. 

College affordability has always been a concern for many incoming students, but changes to the federal FAFSA form this year added a new level of anxiety. The newly restructured financial aid office took a proactive approach to get incoming students the information they needed to make their college decision faster. Over the last five years, 51�ԹϺ��� has increased institutional aid to students by more than 15%. Loan debt for 51�ԹϺ��� students, meanwhile, has decreased over the previous five years.

51�ԹϺ��� teams have removed barriers, such as automatic enrollment holds and late fees, that frustrated students in the past. Increased collaboration across departments and targeted communication, via phone calls, emails, and texts, also ensure students get the support they need without overwhelming them. 

Within two years, Project Wellness has grown from an idea of like-minded student leaders into one of the university’s largest student organizations. The initiative, guided by the premise of students helping students, is quickly becoming a national model for student-led mental health programming. The group is collaborating with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities — 51�ԹϺ���’s institution accrediting agency — to replicate its effectiveness in other universities.

51�ԹϺ��� remains a top choice for military veteran students, once again named among the nation’s top 10 “Military Friendly” campuses by Victory and G.I. Jobs Magazine. 51�ԹϺ��� was ranked number three overall and was also named a Military Spouse Friendly School for the first time. Through the Military Veteran and Services Center (MVSC), 51�ԹϺ��� enrolls more than 1,850 military-affiliated students. 

51�ԹϺ��� student-athletes continue to excel academically — achieving a record 14th-straight semester with a 3.0 grade point average or higher. 168 51�ԹϺ��� student-athletes earned Dean's Honor List recognition for spring 2024, and the 88% student-athlete graduation rate set a record for the third straight year.