A bigger, bolder UC celebrates its first day of class
Local media converge on new spacious Clifton Court Hall for early-morning peek
The University of Cincinnati marked the first day of class, Monday, Aug. 21, celebrating new and returning students, welcoming back faculty and staff, and setting a new record — a projected 50,500 students enrolled for the fall semester. That represents a 5.39% increase in students.
The milestone was captured by local media who showed up in the pre-dawn hours at the new Clifton Court Hall to speak with administrators, faculty and students about growth at UC which is also projected to have about 8,900 first-year students, a 9% increase.
The $93 million Clifton Court Hall project concluded in May with faculty and staff moving into the new 185,000-square-foot facility. The innovative, beautiful building provided the perfect backdrop for TV cameras interested in capturing UC’s first day.
Jack Miner, vice provost for enrollment management at UC, was on hand to answer questions along with Dean James Mack of the College of the Arts and Sciences, Athletic Director John Cunningham and UC students. Student Body President Taylor Morgan and Student Body Vice President Vu Pham shared thoughts of students returning and new students discovering what it means to be a Bearcat.
Student leaders Alex Woodall, Trenton Stern, Marv Jones and Julia Parrey also appeared on air to share their UC experience.
Signs welcoming the Bearcats into the Big 12 are all around campus. Photo by Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.
“We are really in a small club; there are only about a dozen schools in the nation that have more than 50,000 students,” explained Miner during one media interview this week. “In the Big 12 conference, we are probably ranked number 2 or 3 in terms of enrollment so we are coming into the Big 12 big.
“What we like about that movement and growth is the impact that we are having on this city,” says Miner. “It is an opportunity to educate not only the kids from the city, but it is a chance to think about what is the economic impact for Cincinnati. What does 50,000 graduates or 50,000 degrees mean for the businesses that are attracted to this region that we couldn’t five or 10 years ago?”
A new study looking at the 2021-22 fiscal year finds that UC’s overall impact on the business community in southwest Ohio, northern Kentucky and eastern Indiana is $10.6 billion in added income to the business community, an amount that supports 125,057 jobs. For perspective, this means that one out of every 12 jobs in the region is supported by the activities of the university and its students.
Statewide, the study found that UC increases the economic base by $22.7 billion.
Media coverage
Featured top image shows a recent kickoff event in Fifth Third Arena welcoming new Bearcats to UC. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand
Related Stories
Cincinnati sees record rainfall in weekend deluge
July 21, 2026
The Cincinnati Enquirer talks to UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Associate Professor Patrick Ray for context about a July 17 rainstorm that dumped a record amount of rain on parts of Cincinnati.
Putting preschool into perspective
July 20, 2026
Preschool and childcare can be difficult to navigate for parents, as Spectrum News 1 Ohio recently reported. Waitlists are long, and factors like cost, location and transportation can limit options. According to a recent study published by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, only 41% of 3- to 4-year-olds in Ohio were enrolled in preschool between 2020 and 2024 — a 4% decrease from pre-pandemic numbers. For University of Cincinnati early childhood education faculty member Chad Nunamaker, that statistic has caveats.
Engineering magnets for a cleaner future
July 20, 2026
The United States is heavily reliant on imported rare-earth materials to make permanent magnets. Ugochukwu Philip Ochieze, materials science student at the University of Cincinnati, is studying how to use common materials to create permanent magnets, eliminating the need for expensive and scarce rare-earth materials. Pursuing his PhD, Ochieze was named Graduate Student Engineer of the Month by the College of Engineering and Applied Science.