Evergreen Academic Year Begins; Largest Enrollment in School's History Expected

OLYMPIA Wash. -- The Evergreen State College is welcoming the largest-ever freshman class this week - as well as its largest-ever total enrollment at nearly 4500 students. Many students have been moving into college residence halls since last week in preparation for the first day of classes on Monday Sept. 26.

Evergreen's commitment to fostering student success and community involvement has been in full swing with faculty, staff and students organizing more than 80 different events during orientation week for new students. The week culminates with the All Student Convocation Friday Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. in the Longhouse Building. Convocation is Evergreen's campus celebration marking the start of the academic year.

As with the start of every academic year, motorists in the area of The Evergreen State College should be aware of heavier than normal traffic volumes on Evergreen Parkway as new students navigate their way around campus during the first week of school.

Campus police and the campus parking office are taking steps to ease possible congestion in the area during the first few days of school. For the first three days of next week, campus parking will be free. After the first few days of school, traffic volumes should return to normal levels.