SYLVANIA, OH (Toledo News Now) - They're still waiting on final enrollment numbers, but numbers for the first year experience program at Lourdes University continue to rise.
Vanessa Vazquez is a member of the first year experience (FYE) program, and says it's helped her tremendously.
"I got to meet a whole bunch of people, and they talked about the resources and stuff that they had here, like, if we need help," Vazquez said. "I really like it here."
The FYE program was created in 2010 to help high school seniors transition into college life. In 2012, about 225 students were signed up. This year, they're up to 250.
Dr. Dwayne Beggs, program director, says the more the program grows, the better retention for the university.
"More and more students are going to be given the tools necessary to navigate their first year at the university, and their second year, third year and their fourth year," Beggs said. "So this program is very, very important, I think, to higher education and to Lourdes University in particular."
Final enrollment numbers for the fall are expected this week. Enrollment was down in the spring, causing the university to make budget cuts, but they have seen a 15 percent increase in residential student housing this year. A large part of those are FYE students.
