Lynn’s Record Enrollment Checks In
By Victoria Alvarez
Staff Writer
Each year, Lynn receives thousands of applications from expectant students who travel from all over the world to attend this university. With the interest in Lynn spiking, numbers of applications have been increasing drastically. This is the first year since 2006, where Lynn welcomes the largest group of incoming freshmen.
“[There has been] an increase of more than 30 percent in admission applications this year over previous years,” said Gareth Fowles, Vice President for Enrollment Management. Although this class is beneficial for both the university and student body, it has become a challenge for the housing department to place every student in all of the resident halls.
The numbers of new students staying at the local Wyndham Hotel have been decreasing now that the housing department has been creating more space for students to move onto campus. Students who are staying at the hotel have access to take a shuttle bus back and forth to campus for their academics. Although these individuals are still enrolled at Lynn, they are encountering a different experience than those who are currently living in the resident halls on campus.
“Living in the hotel has its pros and cons,” said Arash Maleki, freshman. “It’s nice that we get our rooms cleaned twice a week and have drivers to take us to campus, but at the same time I feel like I can’t unpack. It’s like constantly living out of my suitcases.”
Although the perks of living in the Wyndham hotel consist of cleaning services, accommodations for traveling to and from campus and room service, the same rules apply when it comes to rules and regulations on each floor.
“This is the second year that we’ve placed some students at the Wyndham,” said Meagan Elsberry, Director of Housing and Residence Life. “The staff there is extremely helpful and accommodating and the hotel itself is really close. There is currently an RA and a student staff member there to keep an eye on the students as well as try to give them the best ‘community-like’ atmosphere that they can. For now we aim to give them the most normal residence and university experience that we can.”
Knowing that this is a growing issue, as the pool of applicants continues to multiply, the university is planning to expand the number of resident halls that will be built on campus.
