Northwest freshman numbers up for fall ’15
TONY BROWN/DAILY FORUM
Black T-shirted ’Cat Crew student volunteers Hannah Wilburn, left, and Maddi Clifton help load the belongings of a new freshman into a wheeled cart during Move-In Day Thursday outside the Hudson-Perrin residential complex at Northwest Missouri State University.
Cloudy skies and the late-morning thunderstorm failed to dampen the high spirits of hundreds of freshmen, transfer students, and their families as they moved carloads, truckloads, and vanloads of clothing, furniture, electronics, and other personal gear into Northwest Missouri State University’s residence halls Thursday at the outset of a new school year.
Completion of the Fourth Street pedestrian corridor meant that all entrances into campus were open to traffic Thursday and Friday, and congestion along Main Street and other thoroughfares was minimal.
As the beginning of the fall semester nears — classes start Monday — Northwest is welcoming more than 1,400 freshmen and nearly 300 transfer students to campus, which university officials say is a 9 percent increase over last year.
Despite the increase in freshman numbers, Northwest is projecting a total fall headcount of around 6,600 students, or about the same as last year due to an unusually large graduating class at the close of the spring 2014 semester.
All enrollment numbers are preliminary until the university’s official census occurs on Monday, Sept. 28.
Aside from the big move in, Thursday also marked the start of Advantage weekend, an annual orientation program designed to help first-year students get acquainted with both the campus and their new classmates.
In addition to a number of social events, the Advantage schedule includes times for new students to pick up their university-issued laptops, textbooks, and identification cards. Freshmen will also attend University Seminar classes, take library tours, and view presentations designed to prepare them for campus life.
Students will also receive information about many of the businesses serving the Maryville community during the Merchants Fair set for 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday on the Memorial Bell Tower lawn.
Advantage will culminate at 2:45 p.m. Sunday when all first-year students will gather in Bearcat Arena for Northwest’s annual convocation ceremony, which will be followed by a march to the bell tower and a tree dedication.
At 8:30 p.m. Sunday Northwest will host a back-to-school fireworks display at College Park.
A complete Advantage schedule is posted at www.nwmissouri.edu/admissions/orientation/advantageschedule.htm.
TONY BROWN/DAILY FORUM
Northwest Missouri State University Police Chief Clarence Green, center, gives directions to a newly arrived student Thursday at the main entrance to campus just off Fourth Street. About 1,400 freshmen moved into Northwest residence halls this week, a 9 percent increase over last year.
TONY BROWN/DAILY FORUM
A Northwest student receives the electronic door fob to his room Thursday from a Residential Life staff member working at the check-in counter near the main entrance to the Hudson-Perrin freshman residence hall.
TONY BROWN/DAILY FORUM
Two Northwest Missouri State freshmen carry belongings toward the rear entrance of the Hudson-Perrin residence complex on Move-In Day Thursday. Hundreds of freshmen and transfer students arrived on campus this week for three days of orientation activities before classes begin on Monday.
TONY BROWN/DAILY FORUM
’Cat Crew volunteers roll a cart containing student belongings into the Hudson-Perrin freshman residence complex on Thursday. Northwest is welcoming 1,400 new freshmen and 300 transfer students to campus for the fall semester and expects a total student headcount of around 6,600, about the same as last year.
