Academic year begins with strong freshman class, new campus facilities

The 2016-167 academic year that begins Monday (Aug. 22) is already off to a strong start. The University today welcomes an incoming freshman class that is about 6 percent larger than last year’s, more diverse and with the highest average GPA in University history.

BGSU expects close to 3,600 new freshmen on opening day, up from 3,405 in fall 2015, said Cecilia Castellano, vice provost for strategic enrollment planning. About 20 percent of this year’s freshman class comes from diverse backgrounds, and the class overall  has seen growth of 8 percent in multicultural students compared to last year, including 27 percent more Latino students. Ohio is still the primary recruitment area for the University, Castellano said, but 15 percent of the new freshmen are from other states.

The freshman class boasts a BGSU record-breaking 3.4 GPA. ACT scores of the incoming class match last year’s 22.6. Twenty-three percent of BGSU freshmen reported on their FAFSA applications that they are first-generation college students.

New and returning students will be greeted by some outstanding new facilities.

The School of Media and Communication moves into its new home, which also has a new name. The former South Hall has been rechristened the Michael and Sara Kuhlin (Ka-LEEN) Center in honor of major funding from the alumni couple. The cutting-edge facility features two state-of-the-art audio and video production studios, a media convergence lab uniting all the Falcon media plus active-learning classrooms. The center will allow students to learn in settings mirroring today’s professional workplaces.

The 10 new Greek townhouses along East Wooster Street will be home to 33 chapters. Students will live in an urban village setting, with plenty of outdoor walkways and seating areas conducive to social interaction. The living accommodations are comparable to BGSU’s newest residence halls, with one- and two-bedroom units, study spaces and numerous amenities.