Popularity, construction change campus life

Streams of students, lines of cars and buses, buildings that are open but not on the campus map, and more than a little uneasiness are prompting a nagging question at UNC Charlotte:

“Why can’t I park closer to where I’m going?”

All of it offers an up-close-and-personal look at what statistics have already captured: Charlotte’s largest public university is growing, a lot.

Classes started last week at UNCC with the largest freshman class in the university’s history, and the bulge is noticeable.

“This year it’s a lot more crowded,” said senior Anna Markosyan, 29. She landed in a campus traffic jam at 2 p.m. “That’s a big change from last year.”

There were just 278 freshmen when the campus opened in 1946. This year, freshman enrollment jumped beyond 3,600 students, up by about 500 over last year’s record.

The university has become more aggressive about recruiting out-of-state students. Applications from students in other states were up 46 percent this year.

UNCC has awarded more money this year to students with the greatest need, and that also helped boost enrollment.

The new level of interest is a positive, bringing in a student body that is more diverse and stronger academically, according to Chancellor Phillip Dubois.

Still, the rate of growth was unexpected and comes at a challenging time.

Money from the state was cut by $33 million for fiscal year 2012. That means UNCC has fewer resources for adding staff or expanding services, according to Provost Joan Lorden.

Money will be shuffled and construction projects will be delayed to help make ends meet, according to Lorden. Plenty of maneuvering has been needed to figure out where new and returning students will live.

Housing applications from first-year students were up by 325 for this year. Up to 77 percent of freshmen typically live on campus.

One strategy is to put more students in double rooms than in the past. And although residences at Hunt Village were scheduled to be demolished to make room for new ones, construction at that site is on hold and some of those spaces are open again.

But the cluster of buildings already had been removed from campus maps that are in use now.

Still, construction continues near Hunt Village and at other locations on campus as the university tries to keep pace with growth. Some areas on campus are blocked or more difficult to get to, adding to the sense that spaces are tighter and people closer than ever.

“It’s always hectic, but nothing like this, with all the construction going on,” said senior Erin Poore, 23, a Mooresville High graduate. “Today is chaos. And parking is always a hassle.”

Newcomers such as Travis Higgs arrive with a different perspective. The 18-year-old from Seoul, South Korea, said his experience since he arrived sometimes has been overwhelming.

At the same time, he is awestruck.

“The buildings and the architecture, everything is beautiful,” he said. “I think I made a great choice.”