More freshmen than ever return to UWGB News-Chronicle The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay opened its doors Tuesday to the largest percentage of returning freshmen and largest freshman class it has ever seen. Those two factors combined to create an attendance level of 5,411 students Tuesday, according to information from the university. A record 83 percent of freshmen returned this year, which is an increase of 9 percent over last year. In fact, the total is 7 percent higher than the retention rate has ever been. Sue Keihn, associate provost for students services/dean of students, attributed the retention rate to the quality of students in the class and the school's commitment to improve the first-year experience. "UW-Green Bay is the first or second choice for almost all our freshmen," she said. "Students want to get in here." The freshman class is 966 students this school year, up from 908 last year. The retention of minority students is also at its highest this year. Of the 56 minorities enrolled in fall 2002, 74 percent have returned. Students come from 71 of the state's 72 counties, 36 other states and 26 other countries.