Letter to the editor: Class of ’09 has much to offer

To the Editor:

I would like to share some information regarding the admission process and the class of 2009. Simply focusing on the size of the class and the percentage of students who were admitted fails to capture the true quality of the class.

Our goal is to admit a class which will contribute to Fairfield University in a myriad of different ways – in the classroom, in the residence halls, on the playing fields and in the community. We are also committed to admitting students who are not only capable of meeting the demands of a Fairfield education but will thrive here.

We are fortunate that every year, stronger students are seeking admission to Fairfield. The average SAT score for applicants has risen 80 points in the past eight years with nearly 70 percent of the students ranked in the top quarter of their high school classes. Individually, they apply to many more colleges than in the past and, not unexpectedly, have many educational opportunities available to them.

It is important to note that the class of 2009 is more diverse in terms of both ethnic background and geographic origin than the prior year’s class. Academic quality as measured by class rank and standardized testing had varied little in the last three years.

As soon as it was clear that the class of 2009 would be larger than planned, steps were taken to ensure that the quality of the Fairfield experience would not be diminished in any way. Additional sections of first year courses were added and students were informed that some would be placed in rooms with one additional student.

The admission process in an imperfect science at best. The decision regarding how many applicants will be admitted in a given year depends on a number of factors.

However, one thing is clear. It is a disservice to the outstanding men and women who make up the class of 2009 to imply anything negative about the talents and abilities that they bring to our community simply based on the size of the class or the number of students admitted.

Sincerely,

Judy Dobai

Associate Vice President for

Enrollment Management

Fairfield University