Dear Colleagues,

As we approach the midpoint of this semester, I want to share an update on our fall 2026 enrollment and the work ahead.

This fall, we welcomed 5,527 new first-year students, which represents a 2.8% increase over last year. It is the largest entering class in Temple’s history and the second consecutive record-setting class. We also welcomed 1,052 new transfer students, which represents a 14% increase over last year. In addition, 1,298 new graduate students and more than 800 new professional students joined our community.

While this demonstrates an increased demand for a Temple education during a challenging period in higher education, overall enrollment at our domestic campuses fell short of our budgeted enrollment target by approximately 460 students. This gap can be attributed to a decrease in our first-year retention rate to 77% and lower-than-projected enrollment in all categories. One notable area of promise is the growth in popularity of our international campuses in Tokyo, Kyoto and Rome, where increased demand brings Temple’s total enrollment to 33,380.

From students’ initial visits to campus all the way to move-in day, I know that our enrollment teams and faculty and staff from our schools and colleges have worked tirelessly to show the value of a Temple education and help students envision what the next four years might look like. It is truly a collective effort, and I am grateful to you all for leaning into this important work.

At the same time, our results remind us that there is more work to do. While we achieved important enrollment gains, we did not meet every goal, and overall enrollment at our domestic campuses is slightly below last year’s total. Most concerning is that the retention rate for the first-year class that entered in fall 2025 was 77%, which represents a five-percentage-point decline from the rate for the fall 2024 class.

Our students’ success is Temple’s success, and we must do better.

Student success is more than just the keystone priority of our strategic plan, Forward with Purpose. It is an institutional commitment that extends across the entire university. Our responsibility is to provide every student with the academic, financial and personal support they need to persist, thrive and ultimately earn a Temple degree.

That responsibility belongs to all of us. Whether in our classrooms, advising and administrative offices, residence halls, libraries, student spaces or anywhere else on our campuses, every single interaction can impact a student’s sense of belonging and ability to succeed. Building a stronger culture of student success will require sustained, universitywide attention and action. This work will not be easy, but I know that we will work together to meet our students where they are and help them achieve their goals.

As you know, through our membership in the University Innovation Alliance, we have been working with the National Institute for Student Success (NISS), which has conducted a comprehensive review of our operations to compile a report with detailed recommendations to improve student outcomes.

Next week, NISS Executive Director Tim Renick will present the findings of the NISS audit to approximately 200 members of the Temple community. This group includes a combination of faculty, staff and administrators whose work directly relates to student success.

A follow-up meeting will be held in the coming weeks for all Temple faculty and staff to review the results of the NISS audit. I encourage you to attend the session.

Thank you all for your continued commitment to this university. Most importantly, thank you for your unwavering commitment to the success of our students.

Sincerely,

John Fry
President