Fresno State gets ready to welcome record number of students

Classes at Fresno State will resume on Thursday, Aug. 23, with a projected enrollment of over 25,200 students. DANIEL LEON/CLOVIS ROUNDUP

Fresno State is breaking records when it comes to student enrollment.

When the university kicks off its 108th academic year next Thursday, it will welcome a projected enrollment of over 25,200 students – an all-time high.

About 78 percent of the students are from Fresno State’s service area; the top four represented counties are Fresno (57 percent), Tulare (12.9 percent) Madera (4.8 percent) and Kings (3.7 percent). About 71 percent are first-generation college students.

Fresno State received more than 29,000 applications for the fall 2018 semester, including 26,000 applications for about 5,400 new undergraduate spots.

Here are a few key dates leading up to the start of classes:

Aug. 19: Dorm move-in day
Almost 1,000 student residents will begin moving into nine halls at 9 a.m. A barbeque will follow at 4:30 p.m. with Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro and other administrators in attendance.

Aug. 20: Faculty/Staff Fall Assembly
President Castro will deliver his annual Faculty/Staff Fall Assembly address at 9 a.m. in the Save Mart Center. He will give an update on new developments and planned initiatives for the 2018-19 year.

Aug. 20: New Student Convocation
About 1,500 new and transfer students will be welcomed at the New Student Convocation held at the Save Mart Center. Doors open at 2:15 p.m.