More than 1,200 new undergraduate students joined the UHart community over move-in weekend, including 1,100 first-year students and 115 transfer students. Students were welcomed with a number of signature weekend events including Start Strong Adventures, a series of opportunities to explore local attractions and connect with new classmates. Some of the highlights this year included hiking Talcott Mountain, tubing on the Farmington River, visiting the Wadsworth Atheneum, and painting at Muse Paint Bar.
At Orientation, Ward encouraged members of the Class of 2029 to believe in themselves and their resiliency as they embark on their college journey.
“There is nothing more powerful than believing that you can be successful in college,” he said. “These are such dynamic young people. Our first job is to build them up with confidence and then watch them fly. And that’s a partnership between students, families, and the University of Hartford.”
“Above all else,” he told the students, “I don’t need you to be anything that you’re not. I just need you to be yourself—your true and authentic self—and that will be more than enough.”
President Ward, with help from dozens of Howie’s Helper volunteers, assisted students in moving their belongings into residence halls throughout the day. Nearly 2,900 residential students moved onto campus during the full weekend, with hundreds of families taking advantage of complementary dining in the Commons Dining Hall. The initiative, welcoming parents to dine free of charge anytime they visit their student on campus, has been very well received and will continue this academic year.
Shane Ciccarelli, Associate Vice President of Enrollment and Dean of AdmissionWe can’t wait to see the many ways this class will shape and strengthen our community. I am confident that their energy, talent, and perspectives will make an immediate and lasting impact on UHart.
Meet the Class of 2029
The newest Hawks hail from 30 states, from right here in our region to as far away as California, Washington, Nevada, Texas, Florida, and North Carolina. International students join the class from countries such as China, Bangladesh, and Libya. The University continues to work with 120 additional deposited international undergraduate and graduate students that are still pursuing visa approval.
Collectively, the new undergraduates boast an average GPA of 3.4. Top academic areas of interest include art, architecture, business analytics, criminal justice, finance, mechanical and aerospace engineering, music theatre, nursing, physical therapy, psychology, and radiologic technology.
The class brings an impressive range of accomplishments from high school as National Honor Society members; All-State musicians, performers, and artists; varsity captains and state champions; leaders in DECA, FBLA, and robotics competitions; community service champions; yearbook editors and student journalists; advocates for social justice and equity; and much more. As the University officially begins its first year as a championship-eligible and full member of NCAA Division III, there are 124 new student-athletes joining our athletic programs.
"It was wonderful to meet so many of our new students and their families over move-in weekend, one of the most exciting times of the year for us,” said Shane Ciccarelli, associate vice president of enrollment and dean of admission. “We can’t wait to see the many ways this class will shape and strengthen our community. I am confident that their energy, talent, and perspectives will make an immediate and lasting impact on UHart."
The University is also welcoming 645 new graduate students. The Master of Business Administration leads with the largest enrollments, in addition to increasing full-time students in UHart’s Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Clinical Psychology, and Master of Science in School Psychology.
A Year of Momentum
In his second year as president of the University of Hartford in 2025–26, Ward says that his focus will be on developing a new actionable strategic plan for the University and preparing for a major fundraising campaign.
The University has been riding a wave of momentum recently. In the last six years, UHart has created more than 20 new, in-demand academic programs, with more to come. This year’s incoming class is the first to benefit from Stanley Black & Decker’s Scholars of Excellence, a $3 million scholarship program for top students from the Greater Hartford region. SBD has called the scholarship an investment in their future workforce, with other regional employers including Pratt & Whitney and Hartford Steam Boiler, also supporting scholarship initiatives.
Other transformative initiatives include:
- Offering centralized advising and support through the Center for Student Success
- Helping students leverage academic success into internships and careers through the Allan Center for Career and Professional Development
- Investing in the residential experience, including recent renovations to the Village Apartments, more gathering and common spaces, and key upgrades to student housing across campus
- Adding athletic programs in tennis and field hockey, as well as the new Grant Family Track and Field
Ward has long expressed a desire for the University of Hartford to take a leading role in the city whose name it bears. To that end, Ward has sought to enhance partnerships with major employers, organizations, institutions, donors, and supporters. UHart’s second annual Industry Partner Breakfast recently boasted more than 100 participants.
Still, what unites this broad range of efforts is a relentless commitment to student success—to helping students feel that they matter.
As Aaron Isaacs, vice president of student success and dean of students, told members of the incoming class over move-in weekend: “You are joining a diverse, driven, and caring community of thinkers, artists, engineers, teachers, health professionals, leaders, and a network of over 80,000 alumni. You’re not alone. You’re anchored in a place that believes in you. Welcome to the University of Hartford.”