October 2016 Penn State Beaver Roar
News
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Dorm students notice enrollment spike KATELYNN CROWE Staff Writer
kcc5226@psu.edu
Talk to people who live in Harmony Hall and they’ll tell you the dorm is more crowded than ever. Same thing for the Brodhead Bistro, especially during common hour. There’s only one explanation for this increase: enrollment is up. This fall there are 734 students enrolled, up from 705 last year, said Daniel Pinchot, director of enrollment. Pinchot said that Beaver saw a significant increase in out-of-state students this fall, in part because of the 1+3 program that diverted students originally headed to University Park to other campuses. Because too many freshmen accepted their offer of admission to University Park this fall, there wasn’t enough housing for all 8,800 students. So Penn State offered scholarships and cost savings to students who were willing to divert to another campus for their first year, with the guarantee of finishing their final three years at University Park. Pinchot, who is also a co-advisor to The Roar, said there are nearly 50 new out-of-state freshmen enrolled this fall, nearly double the number from last year. Eleven of those outof-staters are on the 1+3 plan.
During common hour, the Brodhead Bistro is bustling with students.
“The out-of-state students add more to the campus,” Pinchot said. “They have a more diverse upbringing and new perspectives on things. We are also out-of-state friendly (because of housing and our close proximity to a major airport).” Pinchot said the size of the campus can also be a plus, especially in recruiting athletes. “We are a smaller campus. This gives more opportunities for athletes,” he said. “And since we are small, this helps with the transition to UP.”
The enrollment increase did bring some changes to the Housing and Food Services office. Jeremy Lindner, director of Housing and Food Services, said there are 180 students living in Harmony Hall, an increase of 30 compared to last year. The building can hold up to 212 students. Lindner said the biggest issue he faced was that some students who requested a single room couldn’t get one. Lindner also expects fewer room-
The Roar/Jordan Davis
mate changes. “Fuller actually makes it easier to follow the process,” Lindner said. “Students have to put their name on a board to request to change roommates (through eLiving), but some just don’t put their names on at all and try to move into an empty room with a desired roommate. Since the building is fuller, not many students can get empty rooms.” Higher occupancy also means better service, Lindner said. “When there is a fuller building,
that means more students, less budget cuts and more services to provide for the students,” Lindner said. Xiaoying “Eva” Zhou, a sophomore business major from China, said she’s definitely noticed more students on campus and in Harmony Hall than last year. “I have noticed that Harmony Hall is more crowded, especially the lobby and Bistro,” she said. “But I don’t mind it. I like to see different faces.” More students mean more activities, she said, noting that she’s part of a group of students who regularly utilize the campus shuttle trips. “This Sunday, I’m going to Carnegie Museum. Last week, I went to Station Square,” she said. Zhou plans to move to University Park next year, but said she really likes the time she’s spent at Beaver. “I like the small campus because I can be closer with the faculty and staff here,” Zhou said. Freshman engineering major Feranmi Akinpelu agreed, saying he really likes starting his college education at Penn State Beaver. Akinpelu is from Maryland, but originally from Africa. “The structures of the classes are nice,” he said. “I feel like I can have a relationship with my professors because the campus isn’t as big as UP is. This campus gives me the confidence that I need when I move to UP.”