BIDDEFORD — The University of New England is welcoming the largest undergraduate class in its history as classes are set to begin this week, according to a university statement.

On Tuesday, more than 820 students from 32 states were officially welcomed to the university at the annual convocation celebration, held at the beginning of each academic year.

UNE President, Danielle Ripich, spoke at the event and offered advice to incoming students.

“Don’t think of yourself as a vessel, here to be spoon-fed information by a wise and all-knowing faculty,” Ripich said to the freshman class in a prepared statement. “Think of yourself, instead, as an active agent in our community of learners. … Let your intellectual curiosity be ignited and let it burn with the sort of intensity that brings clarity to your thinking and illuminates the dark corners where new knowledge lies waiting to be discovered.”

Prior to this year, the previous largest incoming class was in 2007. That year, 790 students arrived. Last year, 727 freshman enrolled at the university.

Classes at UNE’s Biddeford campus are scheduled to begin today and will be followed by a fireworks show to commemorate the first day of the semester.

News of UNE’s largest incoming class comes as the university’s enrollment figures continue to reach new limits. The university enrolled 12,245 students in the 2015-2016 academic year. When Ripich came to the university in 2006, enrollment stood at 4,272.

The university also graduated its largest ever class in May.

In that ceremony, held at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, UNE conferred 1,747 degrees and certificates – comprising 524 undergraduate degrees, 916 master’s degrees and certificates and 307 doctorates – to members of the class of 2016.