A near-record 630 students have rolled down The Avenue at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) for the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
Despite heavy rain, the last wave of students began arriving Friday morning, including not only new students but also Music Therapy Equivalency students here for their campus residency and Paramedic-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing students attending orientation.
“What an exciting time of the year when students return and new students make their first trip to our beloved campus,” said Brennan J. Randolph, president of SMWC. “The entire campus community is ready to welcome our students and to launch this new academic year. We are looking forward to an exciting year.”
Of the approximately 630 campus students, 273 are new students this fall. The record student enrollment was 634 students in 2023. Here’s a snapshot of the fall 2026 numbers:
- 28 U.S. states, one U.S. territory and 19 countries are represented in the total campus student body
- 68% of campus students are Hoosiers
- 40% of incoming students are students of color
- 33% of total campus students are students of color
- Graduate program enrollment is 143 students, including 33 new students
- Approximately 220 students enrolled in the Woods Online program, including 82 new students
- There are 434 total student-athletes on campus
- 80% of incoming students are student-athletes
Of all the faculty, staff and students greeting the newcomers on The Avenue, move-in day might have been the most fun and rewarding for SMWC’s Admissions team.
“We have worked with several of these students for the past 10 months and have built relationships with them,” said Chris Lozier, associate vice president for enrollment management. “Finally seeing them move in on campus is a great day.”
It was an exciting day, too, for freshman Camryn Brower, of Indianapolis, a business administration major and member of the SMWC men’s basketball team, as he and his family waited to check in the Le Fer Hall lobby. “I’m pretty excited to get the year started, especially the basketball season,” Brower said.
It was a bittersweet day, though, for Brower’s dad, Rodney Garner, who documented the day with his video camera. “I’m excited for my son to start this new journey,” Garner said. “I’m confident that he’ll do well and excel during his time here.”
Anna Boutell, a freshman English major from Terre Haute, had been counting down the days for months. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this, so I’m very excited this day is finally here, and I get to meet everyone,” she said.
Boutell’s mom, Leah, was at more of a loss for words than her daughter. “She’s my baby, and I’m excited for her,” she said with a smile on her face, but tears in her eyes.
The SMWC Student Life staff were ready to greet first-time students and guide them into the academic year. “We have a lot of new students moving in. We have an amazing crew of residential assistants and orientation leaders, so we’re excited to get this new school year started,” said Sara Boyer, who assumed the associate vice president for student success and student life position in May. “Our theme this year is ‘Our College, Our Community,’ and we want every student to know that they are important here and they belong here at The Woods. This is their Woods.”
After a morning on The Avenue, new students and their families packed the Conservatory of Music for a welcome to The Woods. During the event, Darla Hooper, vice president for enrollment management, presented President Randolph with a special box containing more than 270 acorns to symbolize the Class of 2030.
The students wrapped up the event with a class picture inside the Conservatory of Music, as well as family photos as students and their loved ones said goodbye.
“Today is a celebration,” Janet Clark, Ph.D., provost/executive vice president for academic affairs, told the students. “We are glad you are here. But what is next? We intentionally work to make all students feel more than welcome to The Woods. We want you to begin to feel like this is where you belong.”
While the official move-in weekend wasn’t until mid-August, student-athletes in fall sports began returning on July 31. First Monday – a day for students to complete any registration and financial aid before classes start – is Aug. 17. The first day of class is Aug. 18.