For the 2013-14 academic year, the University of Washington Bothell reports record applications and enrollment growth, ranking it among the fastest-growing public universities in the state of Washington.

The campus reports a headcount for 2013-14 of 4,605 students, also counted as 4,216 of full-time equivalent students (FTE). This number compares to an FTE of 3,788 in the previous year, corresponding to an increase of 428 FTEs, or 11 percent. The university also experienced a record number of first year and transfer applications that resulted in a 5 percent increase in enrolled first year students and 21 percent increase in enrolled transfer students over the previous year.

The recent increase in enrollment at UW Bothell now makes it the largest of the five university branch campuses in the state. Ninety-one percent of the currently enrolled students are from the state of Washington.

UW Bothell continues to stand on three basic values: quality, access and diversity, according to Jill Orcutt, assistant vice chancellor for enrollment management.

“Students from all backgrounds come to UW Bothell because of the world-class University of Washington education that is provided through faculty and student engagement in the classroom and paired with strategic community and industry engagement opportunities,” she said. “We pride ourselves in providing this exceptional experience that prepares our graduates for relevant jobs, graduate school, and to influence important changes in their communities and in the world.”

By the numbers

Of the total student population, the top counties of residence are King (53 percent) and Snohomish (26 percent).

The incoming first year class (UW Bothell’s eighth first year class) will total 569, a 5 percent increase over last year.  Of incoming first year students, 54 percent are female and 46 percent are male. The top feeder high schools include Inglemoor, Mariner, Kamiak, Henry Jackson, and Juanita high schools.

There are 764 new transfer students beginning at UW Bothell this fall, a 21 percent increase over last year.  The top feeder institutions for fall 2013 transfer students include Bellevue College, Cascadia Community College, Edmonds Community College, the University of Washington and Shoreline Community College.

UW Bothell remains one of the most diverse universities in the nation.  The incoming first year class is comprised of 67 percent students of color from diverse backgrounds. The diversity profile (with students self-reporting) is: 34 percent Asian American, 11 percent Hispanic, 7 percent African American, 1 percent Native American, and 2 percent Hawaiian/Pacific Islander  (1 percent did not indicate). Forty-six percent of incoming first year students are first-generation college students.

UW Bothell offered more than $42.5 million in financial aid to UW Bothell undergraduates for the 2012-13 year, including grants, scholarships, loans and work-study awards. A total of 60 percent of resident undergraduate students receive financial aid, with 28 percent receiving financial aid through UW’s Husky Promise program. There are 158 students that are U.S. Veterans (or eligible for Veterans benefits).

A changing campus and new leadership

Bjong Wolf Yeigh became UW Bothell’s third chancellor on Sept. 3. He succeeds Kenyon Chan, who served as UW Bothell chancellor for six years.

In addition to new leadership, incoming and returning students to the new academic year arrived on a campus that continues to experience unprecedented growth in programs and footprint. Major construction projects include the $68 million Science and Academic Building (UWB 3) scheduled to open fall 2014, and a Student Activities Center scheduled to break ground this winter. The campus also opened Husky Hall, which centralizes key student services under one roof and will allow construction of needed classroom space elsewhere on campus.

During the last six months of the 2012-2013 academic year, the campus community witnessed the opening of several new construction projects, including the $3.3 million student-funded Sports and Recreation Complex, funded in part by the state; the Veterans Archway, and the Sarah Simonds Green Conservatory, funded by a private gift from the estate of Dr. Gordon Green. The 4,500 square-foot conservatory contains a greenhouse along with education and exhibit space.

This marks the first full academic year for the university’s new School of Business, School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, and School of STEM along with three deans to lead those schools.

All three schools and UW Bothell programs are helping to meet regional employer demand across industries with a special focus on industries that require STEM and highly trained nursing and healthcare degrees. New degrees introduced this fall include a master of science in cyber security engineering, a bachelor of arts in health studies, a bachelor of arts in interactive media design and a bachelor of science in mathematics.  The School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics will launch four new STEM degrees in fall 2014. Those bachelor of science degrees include chemistry, climate science and policy, computer engineering and mechanical engineering. The School of Business will also launch a master’s degree program in accounting in 2014.

As baby boomers get older, more healthcare services are needed, which will require more skilled nurses as indicated by the Institute of Medicine. UW Bothell’s Nursing and Health Studies program launched a health studies major this fall and will launch two innovative degree partnerships in fall 2014. The first is a BSN 1+2+1 degree where the student will obtain  one year of prerequisites at UW Bothell before attending Everett Community College for two years of clinical training and then returning to UW Bothell. The second is an RN-BSN pilot where UW Bothell will offer courses at Harborview Medical Center for nurses at four Seattle partner hospitals.

To learn about UW Bothell’s many offerings, visit www.uwb.edu.