Orientation 2020: JPCatholic Welcomes New Students As In-Person Classes Resume This Fall

Last weekend, JPCatholic held new student Orientation, welcoming 102 new freshmen and transfer students to begin classes this fall. Combined with transfer students from the past three quarters, JPCatholic’s incoming student enrollment for the 2020 calendar year remains strong at 110. Commuter students represent approximately 22% of this year’s class, and Online students 10%.

The socially distanced Orientation gathered students and parents to campus from 27 states and 5 international locations, including Poland, Canada, and the Cayman Islands. Events were also streamed online for students and families unable to attend in-person.

A large portion of the incoming cohort is represented by an increase in local enrollment. This summer, JPCatholic announced two COVID-response scholarship programs to assist local students impacted by COVID-19. The university’s incoming enrollment of students from San Diego County more than doubled from 2019, with an increase this year of 155%.

Following its removal from the state’s COVID-19 watchlist, on August 22nd the County of San Diego updated their Public Health Order, allowing Institutions of Higher Education to hold classes in-person provided they are in compliance with California state guidance. JPCatholic’s Fall 2020 classes began today in a variety of formats: in-person, hybrid, and online. Some in-person classes are being offered indoors while others are outside, and nearly all classes are available for online students.

“2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, everywhere,” said President Derry Connolly. “The arrival of our new freshman class and the re-opening of our campus—though highly COVID constrained—feels like a new birth. New faces, new dreams, and above all, a new group of young men and women ready for formation to Impact Culture for Christ. Praise God.”