Appalachian State saw over 300 more incoming freshmen this year than in years past, with around 3,300 new students, according to Heather Langdon, Director of Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning.
Alicia D. Vest, Associate Director for Student and Administrative Services, said the overflow of freshmen will be housed with resident assistants instead of living in upperclassmen dorms.
“You put a freshman in with a junior or a senior, the [upperclassmen] don’t have time to mess around with freshmen and help them be successful,” Tom Kane, Director of University Housing said. “What we know is that when we typically put a freshmen in an upperclass hall, they don’t always do very well and sometimes they don’t come back.”
Kane said RAs are given a stipend for letting a freshman stay in their room.
Admissions accounts for some students who choose not to attend Appalachian, but this year they overestimated on cancellations, according to Kane.
Kane believes one of the reasons for the spike in student population is the economy.
“I think the economy is good. In 2008, 2009, 2010, every year there had been different fluctuations in regards to the economy,” Kane said. “I think the economy has turned around well enough now that parents and their sons and daughters are having conversations that they can actually afford it now.”
According to Kane, there are plans for new residence halls and that in the next five or six years, they hope to add another 400 beds to accommodate new students.
