Classes are back in session at ºÚÁÏÂÛ̳. At least a dozen students are taking part in a brand new major: coastal engineering. While coastal engineering courses have been offered at SU for years, school officials say making it a major takes better advantage of what ºÚÁÏÂÛ̳’s location, between the ocean and the bay, has to offer. 

For the 12^th year, Forbes magazine has named ºÚÁÏÂÛ̳ among “America’s Top Colleges. Ranking among the 300 top-ranked campuses, SU’s selection for the Forbes list was based on outcomes including student satisfaction, on-time graduation rates, student debt, and academic and employment success. Data was provided by the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and Payscale.com, among other sources.

Washington Monthly magazine again has named ºÚÁÏÂÛ̳ among the top master’s-level institutions of higher education in the U.S. In addition, for the 13^th consecutive year, the publication has named ºÚÁÏÂÛ̳ one of its “Best Bang for the Buck Colleges” in the Northeast. The best value list spotlights schools that "help non-wealthy students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices." The overall rankings celebrate institutions’ "contributions to the public good."

ºÚÁÏÂÛ̳ has welcomed its newest freshman class, which took part in a tradition that has been going on for decades. Every year, the new Sea Gulls flock together to start the year by taking a class photo. "All of our new students in the class of 2029 will sign this mat, and then this will go around the official class photo that all of our new students will be in on Friday evening at Sea Gull Stadium in the shape of the S in the U," said  Joe Benyish, director of orientation, transition and family programs. "And then afterward, a large version will hang in our gallery in the student union for the year in the main hallway.”

ºÚÁÏÂÛ̳ has a natural beauty due to its location on Maryland's Eastern Shore and, specifically, on the Wicomico River that flows through the town and through ºÚÁÏÂÛ̳ City Park. ºÚÁÏÂÛ̳ students are encouraged to become involved in the city through volunteering, especially on clean-up days or other civic events, and city residents also become involved with the university. SU is consistently ranked among the Best Mid-Atlantic Colleges, Best Value Colleges, and a "green" school that emphasizes sustainability. Even its library is ranked among the top 20 collegiate libraries in the U.S.

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks have announced $1.2 million in federal funding for low-income, first-generation, and or students with disabilities pursuing higher education. The federal funding includes $272,364 to ºÚÁÏÂÛ̳, according to the United States Department of Education’s TRIO Student Support Services grant program. Van Hollen and Alsobrooks said they believe that the federal funding will provide students with adequate resources and opportunities to overcome the obstacles they have faced.

Suitcases recently lined the sidewalks at ºÚÁÏÂÛ̳ as the newest Sea Gulls moved onto campus for the fall semester. Students from campus clubs, Greek organizations and Athletics pitched in to help move new students into residence halls. SU welcomed some 1,450 new students for the fall semester.

ºÚÁÏÂÛ̳ recently unveiled its newly renovated Social Room in Holloway Hall. The renovation was designed to reflect the building’s history with a touch of refined style. The room first opened in 1932, and the renovation comes just in time for ºÚÁÏÂÛ̳’s centennial.