SPRING/SUMMER 2006

Greetings from the Office of Admissions at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. This is Issue 3, Volume 8, of our e-newsletter that is sent to interested college counselors around the world.

Our staff spent a productive winter reading a record pool of 4,695 applications for admission to the class of 2010. That number reflects an increase of 12% over last year, and an increase of 54% over five years. Down from 60% last year, 58% of those students were admitted, from high schools in 47 states and 45 different countries. This admitted pool had a mid-50% GPA of 3.4 - 4.0 (on a capped 4.0 scale), SAT composite (for CR and Math sections) of 1230-1390, and 26-30 on the ACT. 69% attend public schools, and 88% of these admitted students were ranked in the top quarter of their class.

While the final numbers won't be available until the students arrive in August, we anticipate welcoming about 520 first-year students and about 60 transfers to L&C this fall. At this point, U.S. students of color represent 17% of the entering class, and, when combined with international students, the total exceeds 25% of the students who will arrive in August.

After we welcomed nearly 1,000 visiting students and their families to campus during the month of April, our staff took a moment to collectively catch our breath, then plunged into planning travel and events for the fall. Many of you will be hearing from us in the coming months as we schedule high school visits and respond to college fair invitations.

Speaking of travel, have you planned your summer vacation yet? Portland, Oregon, is absolutely lovely in the summertime! Come and enjoy the outdoor markets, the Rose Festival, the berry picking, the wine tasting, the summer skiing on Mt. Hood, and, of course, we would be delighted to show you around Lewis & Clark's beautiful campus. For helpful links to all things Portland, and to learn why Portland has been named one of the best cities for everything from wireless connection to cycling to vegetarian dining, open our "About Portland" page.

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CAMPUS NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

New Minor Approved and Six New Professors Hired
In April, Lewis & Clark's faculty approved a new minor field of study in Ethnic Studies, which will be an option for students beginning this fall. Six new professors will also join the faculty in the departments of economics, mathematics, communication, philosophy, and foreign languages.

Stortz Receives 2006 Udall Scholarship
Lewis & Clark College biology major Sasha Stortz has been named a 2006 Morris K. Udall Scholar. She is one of 80 students nationwide from 59 colleges and universities to receive the $5,000 award. The award is Lewis & Clarks fifth since 1992, and the second for Stortz. Udall scholarships are awarded to juniors and seniors in fields related to the environment and to Native American and Alaskan natives in fields related to health care or tribal policy.

New Administrators Join L&C Team
This summer Lewis & Clark will welcome several new administrators to campus. Here in the office of admissions, we are in the midst of a search for an associate dean who will also direct multicultural recruitment. W. Houston Dougharty will arrive from the University of Puget Sound in July to assume the dean of students position. Clark Yeager, assistant to the provost at Kutztown University, will take over the helm as director of physical education and athletics for the Pioneers. Stepping into the role of vice president for business and finance and treasurer of the college will be Carl Vance when he leaves his current position as vice president of finance and administration at Linfield College.

Spotlight on Science
Lewis & Clark's science departments have been making headlines recently. Four recent alums who majored in biochemistry and molecular biology at L&C joined forces to co-author an article in the May edition of the Journal of Neurobiology, and the cover image was generated from the senior thesis work of one of the alums. Associate professor of physics Tom Olsen was recently selected as Professor of the Year, marking the second time in three years that this award has gone to a physics professor, and the third time in four years that a scientist has received this student-selected honor. And over 30 L&C science students are keeping busy on campus once again this summer, conducting research with faculty members through the Rogers Summer Science Research Program. The program provides grants for students to engage in collaborative scientific research in subjects ranging from restoring habitat for endangered butterflies to measuring eclipsing binary star light curves.

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ADMISSIONS CALENDAR

Throughout the Summer
Campus visits continue, including tours, information sessions, and interviews

July 31 - August 4
PNACAC Summer Institute in Portland for high school counselors and admissions professionals, hosted by Lewis & Clark College (contact: Alicia.Ortega@oregonstate.edu)

August 15
New viewbook to be mailed

September 11
Class visits begin for visiting students (by appointment)

September 18
Overnight visits begin for visiting students (seniors and transfers only, by appointment)

November 15
Early Action application deadline