ST. BONAVENTURE — For the first time in its 167-year history, St. Bonaventure University has enrolled more than 3,000 students, a 50% increase in just 10 years, the university announced in a press statement Tuesday.
In 2015, St. Bonaventure had only 2,011 students — total. As the university welcomed students back to class this week, SBU had an enrollment of 2,111 undergraduate and 907 graduate students. More than 580 freshmen arrived on campus Friday, up from 390 just a decade ago.
The last four freshman classes have been the four largest in the last 20 years.
“One of the strengths of St. Bonaventure is the clear strategy we have been implementing to navigate turbulent times in higher education,” said Dr. Jeff Gingerich, president of St. Bonaventure. “There was no quick fix to get us to this milestone. This was the result of so many people here working collaboratively on a number of initiatives for the benefit of the entire institution.”
What the university recognized several years ago is that it needed to expand its academic portfolio to meet market demand.
Of the 917 new students enrolled this fall, graduate and undergraduate, 41% of them are in academic programs that didn’t exist at the university 10 years ago. Since 2015, SBU has strategically added 34 undergraduate and graduate academic programs while eliminating several under-enrolled programs.
One of the key enrollment drivers has been the Dennis R. DePerro School of Health Professions. Founded in 2017, the school is now home to more than 350 students. The university raised more than $19 million to turn historic Francis Hall into a state-of-the-art facility for its health professions students.
“When you’re facing a crisis — and let’s face it, when your freshman enrollment dips below 400, it’s a crisis — you have to start thinking outside the box,” said Dr. David Hilmey, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “Creating a School of Health Professions was a leap of faith, especially given the costs associated with facilities and skilled faculty. But it was an informed, educated leap that was supported by our trustees. We needed to take that leap and we’re all grateful that we did.”
The project was one of the pillars of a just-completed comprehensive capital campaign that shattered its original goal of $100 million, raising $131.4 million to support new facilities, academics, athletics, and its Franciscan mission.
“Without the tremendous support of our alumni and donors in our Bolder Bonaventure fundraising campaign, much of what we’ve accomplished wouldn’t have been possible,” Gingerich said.
St. Bonaventure also created primary, non-academic pathways to attract more students.
- Three Division I sports have been added since 2017: men’s lacrosse (2018), men’s and women’s track (2017), and women’s golf (2026).
- The men’s and women’s rugby programs, each of which has won a national title in the last four years, were elevated to the highest competition level in the nation. SBU has more than 100 rugby players enrolled.
- The nationally ranked club hockey program became so popular that it had to add a second team.
- SBU hired a full-time varsity esports coach and built a cutting-edge esports arena.
“There is no way we could have accomplished all of this if everyone wasn’t rowing in the same direction,” said Bernie Valento, vice president for Enrollment. “We have a great Admissions and Financial Aid team, but it would have been impossible to achieve this milestone if we didn’t have the remarkable support of our faculty and staff.”
The university could have done what so many do when the financial noose tightens — try to cut its way out of its problems. Instead, St. Bonaventure continued to invest, spending tens ofmillions on academic programs, infrastructure upgrades, and new or renovated academic, residential and athletic facilities.
The most recent major project is the nearly $13 million renovation of the Murphy Building, home to the renowned Jandoli School of Communication. The Henretta Communication Center will be a centerpiece for digital media innovation and experiential learning that will transform the school.
“The state-of-the-art center will include a digital newsroom to bring together the campus media outlets and create a collaborative, future-focused facility,” said Aaron Chimbel, dean of the school.
St. Bonaventure also went back to its roots in recruitment. The university recognized in 2015 that it needed to double down on its efforts in its primary markets of Buffalo and Rochester instead of searching for greener pastures elsewhere.
The university became the Official Education Partner of the Buffalo Bills in 2019; digital marketing campaigns flooded the region; admissions counselors were added to the primary regions; and the campus visit experience for prospective students and their families was improved.
University leaders aren’t taking their success for granted. A new strategic plan is being unveiled this month with a focus on student success, financial stability, mission-driven leadership and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence.
“We still have work to do. I need to be clear about that. You can’t afford to let your guard down in higher ed these days,” Gingerich said. “But all in all, I couldn’t be happier with the trajectory we’re on.
“What I’m most proud of is that we’ve done all this while still remaining true to our mission and values. Community, compassion, integrity and wisdom really do matter here,” Gingerich added. “Those values are the bedrock of our foundation at Bona’s and always will be.”
