Just as the Class of 2000 – the largest in Union
College history – is headed out the door, along comes the Class of 2004.
Early this week, 585 students had paid their deposits to
join the Class of 2004, according to Dan Lundquist, vice president for
admissions and financial aid. An expected “summer melt” of 5
percent would mean about 555 entering freshmen this fall, he added.
However, unlike the Class of 2000 — over 600 in early
May and 585 by the fall — we have a “safety valve” in the form
of a number of juniors who would like to live off campus, making room for
the freshmen, Lundquist said. In 1996, the College had to house a number
of students in off-campus apartments.
Lundquist attributes this year's largess to growing
popularity of the College, a favorable demographic and a strong economy.
“By the time the dust settles, I hope we will have
erred on the side of being financially prudent,” he says.
And for the first time in years – four to be exact –
Lundquist is quietly hoping that other institutions go to their wait
lists.