By CLAIRE SANT
BGSU Student Contributor
From one nest to the next, the Falcons are landing. As the class of 2028 arrives onto campus, BGSU is coming back to life after a quiet summer.
This week, new students are moving into their new homes at Centennial Hall, Kresicher, Offenhauer, Conklin and the newly renovated McDonald Hall.
The class of 2028, consisting of 3,900 new students, will be getting ready for classes to begin Monday, Aug. 26. While most students call Ohio home, the enrollment from out-of-state is up 21%.
This fall, BGSU’s enrollment records show a 22% increase since fall 2022, welcoming one of the largest freshman classes.
BGSU President Rodney Rogers highlighted the university’s push to stay ahead of the 21st-century education and demand. “A big part of it is that we’ve been very intentional to make sure we have relevant, meaningful academic programs.”
He noted the expansion of high-demand majorsl. “We’ve leaned into health care, like nursing, and the shortage of teachers.”
BGSU freshman, Whitney Johnson, from Deshler, Ohio, came to Bowling Green to study nursing, a new and growing program at BGSU. While she could have chosen plenty of other nursing schools, other enticing factors led her to BGSU.
“Honestly, I had BG crossed off because I didn’t want to be that close to home,” she said. “I ended up visiting and I really liked it. … It felt like home.”
Johnson’s brother, 11 months older than her, is also starting his freshman year at BGSU. She joked that because he moved in a day before her, he was the guinea pig and that she could plan accordingly.
For Johnson, BGSU is more than just a university – it’s a family tradition. “My mom and my grandparents went to Bowling Green, so it’s kind of a family thing.”
Johnson, however, noted her family would have supported her choice no matter where she went.
The classroom can be the core of education, but Rogers underscored the importance of the student experience. “Our commitment is really to the students,” he said. “To make sure they can have an experience of living on campus.”
With some strategic planning within residence halls this year, all new freshmen can get the on-campus living experience.
Rogers expressed gratitude for the city of Bowling Green, and how it provides a great place for BGSU to thrive and welcome new students each semester. “We have a city that’s incredibly committed to this idea of a community,” he said. “It’s one of America’s greatest college towns.”
