(Courtesy of Yeshiva University) Over the past few weeks, Yeshiva University has successfully welcomed back undergraduate students from around the country and across the globe to its Manhattan campuses. Since the middle of October, undergraduate men and women have returned to the dorms, cafeterias, batei midrash and classrooms on the Wilf Campus uptown and Beren Campus in midtown, all done with appropriate social distancing, mask wearing, a proactive COVID-19 monitoring program and daily temperature checks.

This return to campus is yet another of the silver linings that YU has found in a year filled with challenges, as the University was one of the first educational institutions in the United States to feel the impact of the global pandemic back in March. Besides being able to quickly and seamlessly transfer all its undergraduate and graduate courses to an online format, many students, faculty members and roshei yeshiva have been helping the local and greater Jewish community around the world respond to the many challenges posed by the crisis with warmth, dedication and support.

Importantly, Yeshiva University has risen 21 places in the 2021 Best Colleges Rankings from U.S. News & World Report, jumping to #76, a reflection of enhancements in several institutional areas. The school also ranks #54 in the Best Value Schools category. With enrollment reaching over 5,000 for the 2019/2020 academic year, new degree programs and a dynamic faculty, YU is poised to continue its success as it heads into 2021.

But that’s far from the whole story of YU’s impressive growth. More than 94% of undergraduates had found post-graduation destinations within six months of graduating, joining the school’s network of more than 70,000 alumni whose involvement and community support continues to be incredibly strong. Philanthropic giving to the school is up 59% since 2017. YU also saw an 89% increase in the number of grants awarded for faculty research and a 114% increase in dollars awarded.

Additionally, back in March the YU Macs were playing in the NCAA Division III Sweet Sixteen; the team had been named the fourth-ranked team in the Basketball Times Top 20 Preseason Rankings and earned the 20th spot on the College Athletic Advisor’s “College Men’s Basketball Programs That Inspire” list.

“This past year has been a year like no other. And through it all, Yeshiva University has had an exceptional year of growth both in the way we have addressed the inherent challenges and how we have risen above them,” noted Dr. Ari Berman, president of Yeshiva University, in the 2020 President’s Report.

This story of growth in the face of challenges will be proudly showcased during the University’s upcoming virtual undergraduate open houses later this month. The Women’s Open House will take place online from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 15. The Men’s Open House will be held the following week, on Sunday, Nov. 22, also from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST.

During these highly anticipated open houses, high school seniors and their parents will get to attend all the informative sessions provided in a traditional open house but occurring for the first time in a fully virtual environment. Participants can expect to hear a welcome message from Dr. Berman and presentations about YU’s unique programs, culture, community and on-campus life from its deans and members of the school’s world-renowned faculty as well as a dynamic student panel.

Of note will be addresses by Rabbi Yosef Kalinsky, dean of the Men’s Undergraduate Torah Studies programs, and Shoshana Schechter, associate dean for Torah Studies at Stern College for Women, who will delve into the quality, breadth and depth of YU’s renowned Judaic education. Throughout the week following the open houses, prospective students and their families will have the unique opportunity to join shiurim from YU’s Torah faculty, rebbeim and roshei yeshiva to experience firsthand what makes YU the college of choice for Jewish students from around the world.

Students and their parents will also learn about the many exciting new majors available at YU, such as the Sy Syms School of Business’ new course of study in real estate, plus the expansion of the University’s dual degree and pathways programs, which will enable undergraduate students to jumpstart their graduate degree while still pursuing their bachelor’s degree. For those students interested in technology, there will be a chance to learn about the phenomenal growth of the computer science departments on each campus, where the number of students registered in these programs has grown by one-third since 2018.

To register for the upcoming Women’s Open House on Sunday, Nov. 15, visit https://www.yu.edu/admissions/events/openhouse-women. Registration for the forthcoming Men’s Open House on Sunday, Nov, 22, can be completed at https://www.yu.edu/admissions/events/openhouse-men.

For more information on YU’s growth and its worldwide reputation as a center of academic excellence and Jewish values, the 2020 President’s Report is now available at https://www.yu.edu/presidents-report.