LAFAYETTE, La. — Through eight academic colleges and the graduate school, Friday and Saturday's Spring Commencement exercises were enough to make a University Administrator proud.
"For us as a university," begins Dewayne Bowie, UL Vice-President for Enrollment Management, "it was a very bittersweet day. This is a culmination of all the hard work for these men and women and the university as well, but I also saw so many young men and women that have really contributed a lot to the university. And now they're gone."
Multiple accomplishments including 366 students receiving graduate degrees and certificates from UL. 328 Master's Degrees, a record for the school, and 36 Doctoral Degrees, the second-highest in school history.
"The high number of graduates is absolutely a testament to the investment and recruitment of strong students," explains Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser, Dean of UL's Graduate Schools. "Growth of programs, increased access to graduate education. Doubling down on graduate education is what we've done over the last 10 years."
A record 28 students finished with the Summa Cum Laude honor meaning they had perfect 4.0 averages.
To signify our region as a melting pot of cultures and ideologies, there were 115 graduates of Hispanic descent, which tied a record. And the 478 minority graduates? That's the second-largest ever for UL Lafayette.
"Many have really gravitated toward UL because of the culture here and I think it's because of the family environment, it's not too big it's not too small, it's just right for them," adds Bowie.
Honor graduates with grade point averages of 3.5 or better numbered 432. That is the second-highest since the school opened its doors as SLI.
So, what is next for UL? Where does the university go from there and how can it top those numbers?
"By really working with our current students. keeping them engaged in their programs and helping them persist to seeing them through," suggests Farmer-Kaiser.
Bowie adds that access to higher education for qualified students is also key.
"So the challenge for us is that we stay open and accessible to all students who desire to earn a degree from this great institution. We work hard to make sure we continue to do that and do be out of reach for anybody."
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