Aug. 14, 2003

VCU welcomes largest incoming freshman class

Freshman headcount marks fifth straight year of increases

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By Malorie Burkett

Howard Hyde helps his daughter, Morgan load a cart of her belongings as she moves into VCU's Johnson Hall.
Howard Hyde helps his daughter, Morgan load a cart of her belongings as she moves into VCU's Johnson Hall.

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University this week welcomes its largest freshman class as it prepares for the start of the 2003-2004 academic year.
Fall semester statistics include:

  • A record number 3,250 freshmen. This is the fifth straight year of increases, up from 3,048 last year.

  • An increase this year in the number of first-time freshmen who are African American, Asian, Hispanic and Native American. Overall, 38 percent of the freshman class are minority students.

  • 440 freshmen from Fairfax County. Fairfax County now is the single largest feeder county/city for VCU freshmen. Significant increases this year were in Spotsylvania and Stafford counties as well as the Tidewater area, including Newport News, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

  • Forensic Science as an increasingly popular major, up from 85 to 150 this academic year. Also up significantly are enrollments in pre-nursing, pre-pharmacy and psychology. There is about a 30 percent increase overall in life sciences enrollments.

Marissa Seneca organizes her possessions on her cart before taking the items into her dorm room.
Marissa Seneca organizes her possessions on her cart before taking the items into her dorm room.

Freshmen who did not have the opportunity to attend VCU’s summer Student Testing Advising Registration (STAR) program began moving into residence halls Aug. 13 for the fall STAR program. All other freshmen and upperclassmen begin moving into residence halls Aug. 16. Classes begin Thursday, Aug. 21.

With the opening of VCU’s new Broad and Belvidere Apartments and the addition of Phase 3 to Gladding Residence Center, both for upperclassmen, more students are living on campus this year than ever before. 4,000 students will be living on campus. Total fall semester enrollment at VCU is expected to be 26,700, up from 26,000 last year.

From left: Aaron Martin, Brett Ellis, Jeff Knighton, Chris Hamrick and Chris Knighton from VCU's On-campus Housing Move-in Crew, wait outside of Rhoads Hall for the next wave of students needing assistance with the move. The crew was on hand to facilitate the students' moving experiences by helping to transport their belongings into the residence halls.
From left: Aaron Martin, Brett Ellis, Jeff Knighton, Chris Hamrick and Chris Knighton from VCU's On-campus Housing Move-in Crew, wait outside of Rhoads Hall for the next wave of students needing assistance with the move. The crew was on hand to facilitate the students' moving experiences by helping to transport their belongings into the residence halls.

VCU’s Office of Housing and Residence Education anticipates that this year’s busiest move-in dates will be Aug. 16 and 17. For more information on VCU’s residence halls, campus housing or move-in information, visit http://www.students.vcu.edu/housing/.