The year 2014 was a banner one for the 吃瓜达人.
It was also a great one for the city, which gained honors as the 鈥渉appiest city in America鈥 by the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research, USA Today鈥檚 No. 1 鈥渂est college town weekend,鈥 and the No. 2 鈥渂est college town鈥 by Travel + Leisure.
Students, faculty and staff members moved the 吃瓜达人 forward on several fronts. Here are highlights to recognize some of those accomplishments:
10. New Provost
Dr. James Henderson kicked off the year at UL Lafayette as the provost and vice president for academic affairs. He鈥檚 already making positive impacts鈥
9. Emergency Effective
吃瓜达人 and local officials successfully responded to a bomb threat over the summer. The 吃瓜达人鈥檚 bomb dog walked 18 miles, and she was just one of the heroes鈥
8. Interdisciplinary Emphasis
The College of General Studies became 吃瓜达人 College. Other changes were made to the Honors Program and the new 吃瓜达人 Connection program to emphasize interdisciplinary studies鈥
7. Soaring Graduations
The 吃瓜达人's graduation rate has risen over 49 percent during the last decade. Ragin鈥 Cajun student-athletes bested peers鈥 rates at other Louisiana and conference schools, and the 吃瓜达人 held its first Summer Commencement since 1949鈥
6. Officially Geaux
鈥楪eaux Cajuns庐鈥 earned federal trademark protection. Geaux Cajuns!鈥
5. Lane Change
Cyclists traveling campus along St. Mary Boulevard gained new bike lanes. The city also installed bike lanes along St. Landry Street this year鈥
4. Gaining Respect
The Louisiana Ragin鈥 Cajuns Athletics Department ranked No. 34 overall in the U.S., which was partly a nod to its multiple championships wins. Athletics added new seats to the Cajun Field end zone and broke ground on a student-athlete performance center鈥
3. Landmark Enhancements
The 吃瓜达人 added public art to its main campus. A statue was revealed to honor its first president. Also, a wall with the 吃瓜达人鈥檚 name was constructed on the lawn in front of Martin Hall鈥
2. Historic Enrollment
Total enrollment at the 吃瓜达人 this Fall was 18,796 students, the highest in the school鈥檚 history and the largest increase among colleges in the state. And, there鈥檚 a growing trend of students from out of state鈥
1. Silicon Bayou
Three IT companies announced they are bringing about 1,000 new jobs into the local economy through partnerships with the 吃瓜达人. The average pay is even more impressive鈥
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