On Aug. 28, new and returning students started classes for the fall 2018 semester. Prior to the beginning of classes, the Office of Housing and Residential Life welcomed nearly 2,500 students to campus during the fall move-in days on Aug. 26 and 27.

In keeping with its commitment to being a predominantly residential campus for its undergraduate students, Eastern was able to accommodate all first-year and transfer students as, well as all upperclassmen who desired on-campus housing. Additionally, Eastern now offers on-campus housing for any part-time or graduate student who wishes to be a part of the residential experience.

“With the help of a welcome crew of more than 250 student volunteers, the move-in process went extremely well,” said LaMar Coleman, director of housing and residential life. “Administrators, faculty, staff and alumni were also on hand to help roll out the welcome mat for new and returning students and their families.”

While more than 85 percent of Eastern students come 158 municipalities across Connecticut, the University’s incoming class also includes students from 20 other states, including California, Texas, Iowa, Mississippi and Kansas, as well as 24 countries, including Norway, Ghana, Venezuela and Uzbekistan. As such, the Eastern residential population is a diverse community of scholars who will benefit from the inclusive communities, active learning opportunities and life skills development that Eastern’s residential campus provides.

With efforts to provide one of the best residential life experiences throughout the state and region, residential students at Eastern will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of programs and initiatives throughout the academic year. Some of the planned initiatives being offered to residential students are the Six Week Educational Enhancement Program (S.W.E.E.P.); Workshops On Wednesdays (W.O.W.) campus resource series; Friday After Dark (F.A.D.) weekend programming; Warrior Cup residence hall competition; Individualized Developmental Experiences And Learning (I.D.E.A.L) Portfolio initiative; Making Adjustments To College Hooked to Upperclassman Peers (Project M.A.T.C.H. U.P.) mentoring program; Theme Housing; and a host of other initiatives, programs, activities and events.