UArizona touts diversity of new students as fall semester begins

PHOENIX – The University of Arizona touted the diversity of its new students as it kicked off the fall semester on Monday.

Nearly half of the first-year students self-reported as non-white, according to the Tucson-based university.

“We are so proud to welcome the most diverse incoming class to the University of Arizona this year,” UArizona President Robert Robbins said in a press release.

Preliminary enrollment numbers showed 48% of the 7,500 first-year students self-reporting as non-white, up from 43% a year ago, the school said.

UArizona said it received more than 43,000 first-year applications and nearly 8,000 transfer applications, both records, despite the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The campus experience may look different from what they expected when they first applied,” Robbins said. “However, we remain fully committed to providing all University of Arizona students with the world-class education and career preparation they need to help them achieve their goals.”

UArizona expected about 5,000 on-campus students Monday as part of its phased-in return plan.

If conditions allow and students and staff adhere to public health measures, the number will be ramped up until reaching 25,000-30,000 after Labor Day. That would still be under half the usual on-campus population.

The school’s return plan includes robust COVID-19 testing and tracing programs as well as enhanced cleaning protocols and a face mask mandate when social distancing is not possible both indoors and outdoors.

“I’m not really concerned about any safety,” Nathan Lenguyen of Surprise, a pharmacy student at UArizona’s downtown Phoenix campus, told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday. “They messaged us and communicated with us throughout the summer.”

UArizona is the last of the state’s three public universities to begin its fall semester.

Arizona State University classes, including many on campus, began last week. Northern Arizona University started online-only classes Aug. 12 and plans to resume in-person instruction Aug. 31.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

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