DelVal Graduate Enrollment Up By 24 Percent

Graduate enrollment at DelVal increased 24 percent in its first academic year after changing from a college to a university, school officials announced this week.

Delaware Valley University has 344 graduate students enrolled for the fall 2015 semester, which is 67 more students than fall 2014, according to numbers provided by the university.

“There is a great deal of momentum and excitement on our campus,” said University President Dr. Joseph S. Brosnan. “DelVal is an institution that is committed to adapting and changing to deliver the best possible experience for our students. Our expanded and thriving graduate school is a reflection of that approach.”

In order to meet the requirements to become a university, DelVal expanded its graduate offerings and now offers six master’s degree programs.

Programs that had the largest increases in enrollment from fall 2014 to fall 2015 include: the M.S. in Special Education (enrollment increased by 500 percent); the doctoral program in educational leadership (enrollment increased by 167 percent); the M.S. in Educational Leadership (enrollment increased by 88 percent) and the M.A. in Policy Studies (enrollment increased by 50 percent), the university said in a statement.

“We plan to continue to grow our academic offerings by adding a physician assistant program, which will help prepare students for rewarding, in-demand careers,” said Dr. Bashar Hanna, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty. “The University anticipates matriculating its first physician assistant class in July 2019.”

PHOTO: Credit: Allure West Studios. Chad Watters, a graduate of DelVal’s M.S. in educational leadership program who is now a student in DelVal’s doctoral program and Autumn Canfield B.S. ’13, M.A. ’15, who was hired as special projects coordinator for Doylestown Township after completing DelVal’s graduate policy studies program.