More than 3,400 new and returning students began moving into East Tennessee State University campus housing this week for the fall semester, university officials said.
According to ETSU's website, the university started moving new incoming students into residence halls on Wednesday, followed by returning students on Thursday and Friday. Additional students will arrive on remaining Move-In 2025 dates set for Saturday and Sunday, ahead of the first day of classes on Monday.
ETSU President Brian Noland said this semester will mark the first time that the university has welcomed this many students to live on campus.
“We anticipate that this will be the largest number of students ever to live on campus in the history of the university,†Noland told ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ Press last week.
Richard Swearingen, ETSU’s executive director of Housing and Residence Life, said the increase in students living on campus coincides with overall increases in enrollment in recent years since COVID-19.
“Enrollment has grown over the past several years. That naturally creates an increase in demand for housing on campus,†he said.
The increase in demand for student housing this year comes as the university continues to grapple with on-campus housing shortages similar to previous years.
ETSU officials said the university is working to address housing demand by partnering with four local hotels to temporarily house around 100 students. The strategy mirrors past years' successful approaches, where hotel-placed students eventually transitioned to on-campus residence halls, according to ETSU spokesperson O.J. Early.
“The university prioritizes housing returning students alongside incoming first-year students, with room assignments determined by multiple criteria, including application submission timing. Additionally, ETSU's renovation of Stone Hall will be completed this fall, contributing approximately 80 additional beds to the residential capacity,†Early said in an emailed statement.
Regardless of the logistical challenges, Swearingen said the first few weeks of the fall semester always mark “an exciting time to see the campus come back to life with students.â€
He noted that student volunteers have worked to make sure new students feel welcome on campus by helping them move into dorms on Move-In dates. Students who are temporarily off-campus will also have access to shuttle services to and from the main campus.
“We hear feedback from families about how welcoming [ETSU] is and how comforting it is to know that they're leaving their student in a place that is prepared for them and is welcoming them to get involved,†Swearingen said, adding that the university is "thrilled to have students back."
“It’s a critical time, these first six weeks in particular. This is where students will get their bearings, figure out how to navigate the campus but more importantly, begin learning about the campus culture and making connections that will last their whole four years here," he said. "They'll find a way to become a part of the Buccaneer community."
