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Media coverage of UC's first day

University of Cincinnati returns for the fall semester with plenty of big news, including its largest and brightest class

headshot of John Bach By John Bach 513-556-2019
August 27, 2018

Each of Cincinnati's four local television stations carried live coverage from the University of Cincinnati campus this morning to share UC's back-to-school news with area viewers. 

Among the headlines, the university begins the 2018-19 academic year with yet another record enrollment — its 6th straight. The latest enrollment projection is 45,251 students this semester, including 7,709 first-year students, whose test scores and grades indicate they are the brightest incoming class yet. Among first-years, 83 percent (also a record) are living in campus housing. Read complete back-to-school package.

Sinna Habteselassie, a double major in neuroscience and organizational leadership in UC's College of Arts and Sciences, is the first African-American woman to serve as student body president in UC’s 199-year history. Habteselassie said it took some convincing from friends and mentors before she decided to run.

“I said, ‘I have the ability to do it. I can do it,’” she said. “We’re not doing enough to make sure marginalized people have a seat at the table. Hopefully, my presence will encourage other people to participate.”

Her parents emigrated from Ethiopia during the 1983-85 famine when the country was in the midst of a decade-long civil war. The family settled in Maryland, and then in Centerville, Ohio, just south of Dayton, where she and her older brother, Gabriel, were born and raised.

While at UC, Habteselassie has traveled to Thailand, where she provided community health outreach to newly arrived immigrants through the student group GlobeMed and its nonprofit partner Social Action for Women. She likes the idea of working abroad for a global nonprofit such as the Gates Foundation. After graduating from UC, she plans to continue her education in public policy and health or international law in Washington, D.C., where many global nonprofits and policy organizations are based.

 

Record housing popularity

Living on the University of Cincinnati campus has never been more popular — and with a brand-new option at Marian Spencer Hall and special learning-living communities, emerging housing options are giving students even more reasons to call UC home.

"We’re seeing demand grow all around," said Carl Dieso, director of housing. With overall enrollment and first-year class size poised to set records, it makes sense that around 6,800 have opted to live on campus this year — an increase of more than five percent over last year. But that rise isn’t just attributed to sheer population growth — 83 percent of first-year students will be residing in UC housing, a new university record.

More upperclass students are renewing their housing contracts, too. In order to keep up with demand, UC for the eighth year has expanded capacity in nearby properties through a block-lease program, with spaces available at University Park Apartments, University Edge, U Square, 101 East Corry, The Verge Cincinnati and CP Cincy.

Dieso attributes the trend to UC’s modern facilities, convenient and affordable packages and new offerings like specialized learning-living communities. "There’s just a lot of good stuff happening, and I think folks are aware of that and they want to be part of it."

 

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