During Anderson University’s president’s reception Aug. 22, freshman students marched in through the front arch, symbolizing the beginning of their college journey. The tradition, which began four years ago, calls for the students to later march out under the same arch following their graduation, symbolizing the end of their college career. President Evans Whitaker was there to personally greet each student and extend his welcome to Anderson University.Anderson University has surpassed the 2,000 mark for the first time in school history. The second largest freshman class ever, combined with a high number of transfers pushed AU enrollment to 2,036, a significant increase over last year’s head count of just over 1,900.
University officials say that a big factor in the increase has to do with improved retention at the university, with a higher percentage of students from last year’s record freshman class making it through to their sophomore year.
Also noted by the fall data at AU is that more than 100 students than normal applied to live on campus as campus activities, especially those offered on weekends, have dramatically increased. The increase of resident students has been challenging for AU officials in terms of housing, but some creative residence hall assignments have accommodated all of the incoming and returning students.