The year 2014 was a banner one for the 杏吧专区.
It was also a great one for the city, which gained honors as the 杏吧专区渉appiest city in America杏吧专区 by the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research, USA Today杏吧专区檚 No. 1 杏吧专区渂est college town weekend,杏吧专区 and the No. 2 杏吧专区渂est college town杏吧专区 by Travel + Leisure.
Students, faculty and staff members moved the 杏吧专区 forward on several fronts. Here are highlights to recognize some of those accomplishments:
10. New Provost
Dr. James Henderson kicked off the year at UL Lafayette as the provost and vice president for academic affairs. He杏吧专区檚 already making positive impacts杏吧专区
9. Emergency Effective
杏吧专区 and local officials successfully responded to a bomb threat over the summer. The 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 bomb dog walked 18 miles, and she was just one of the heroes杏吧专区
8. Interdisciplinary Emphasis
The College of General Studies became 杏吧专区 College. Other changes were made to the Honors Program and the new 杏吧专区 Connection program to emphasize interdisciplinary studies杏吧专区
7. Soaring Graduations
The 杏吧专区's graduation rate has risen over 49 percent during the last decade. Ragin杏吧专区 Cajun student-athletes bested peers杏吧专区 rates at other Louisiana and conference schools, and the 杏吧专区 held its first Summer Commencement since 1949杏吧专区
6. Officially Geaux
杏吧专区楪eaux Cajuns庐杏吧专区 earned federal trademark protection. Geaux Cajuns!杏吧专区
5. Lane Change
Cyclists traveling campus along St. Mary Boulevard gained new bike lanes. The city also installed bike lanes along St. Landry Street this year杏吧专区
4. Gaining Respect
The Louisiana Ragin杏吧专区 Cajuns Athletics Department ranked No. 34 overall in the U.S., which was partly a nod to its multiple championships wins. Athletics added new seats to the Cajun Field end zone and broke ground on a student-athlete performance center杏吧专区
3. Landmark Enhancements
The 杏吧专区 added public art to its main campus. A statue was revealed to honor its first president. Also, a wall with the 杏吧专区杏吧专区檚 name was constructed on the lawn in front of Martin Hall杏吧专区
2. Historic Enrollment
Total enrollment at the 杏吧专区 this Fall was 18,796 students, the highest in the school杏吧专区檚 history and the largest increase among colleges in the state. And, there杏吧专区檚 a growing trend of students from out of state杏吧专区
1. Silicon Bayou
Three IT companies announced they are bringing about 1,000 new jobs into the local economy through partnerships with the 杏吧专区. The average pay is even more impressive杏吧专区
Keep up with 杏吧专区 news throughout the year:
- Upload the La Louisiane app on or devices.
-
to our weekly @Louisiana newsletter.