| By Drew Moody
Glenville State College faculty and staff are busy preparing for students returning this week for the fall semester.
Freshman enrollment numbers have jumped about 30-percent over last year, according to Duane Chapman who heads the admissions office. And, for the third consecutive year, full-time total enrollment is posting positive gains as well. However, final totals aren't released for several weeks.
Freshman move-in day 2008
File photo by Drew Moody
FRIDAY IS FRESHMEN MOVE-IN DAY
Administrators, professors and staff gather to help freshman and their parents move into the dorms. Students are expected to report between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 14.
In what has become an annual fall ritual, college personnel have become experts at speedily dispensing with checking everyone in, assigning rooms and getting their belongings to the right place.
Despite the heat and a seemingly endless line of cars and carts being loaded and moved about it's accomplished with good humor and lots of smiles.
Returning students have a more flexible check-in and are welcome Friday afternoon, Saturday or Sunday.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
Following the move-in madness a variety of activities are slated during the weekend including musical entertainment, a beach block party, and a picnic.
The public is invited to attend the Community and Campus Fair picnic beginning at 11:30 a.m. on the Clark Hall lawn.
A complete listing of all activities can be found on the GSC website by clicking on the "GSC 100" box located at the top left of the home page. That web address is www.glenville.edu
CONCLUSION OF A BUSY SUMMER
While summer is frequently seen as a time when "school's out," the GSC campus recently wrapped up one of its busiest summers. In addition to class offerings the college also hosted scores of West Virginia high school students and teachers participating in two three week NASA programs. A total of 60 students were immersed in field and lab work focusing on areas as diverse as robotics, rocketry, and collecting and cataloging field specimens. Their schedules were mixed with class work, special presentations and field trips to such places as Washington D.C.'s Smithsonian Institute.
Making their first visit to GSC were more than 80 high school students and teachers involved in the Health Sciences & Technology Academy (HSTA).
The college's criminal justice department provided the backdrop for them to investigate the historic 1919 Glenville murder of Sarah L. "Sis" Linn.
HSTA provides an environment encouraging interest and success in the health sciences. Students who complete program requirements during their high school years can qualify for college scholarships and tuition waivers.
LIGHTNING STRIKE DAMAGE UPDATE
In mid-June the college's landmark clock tower was struck by lightning during a severe storm. Witnesses reported it appeared a "ball of fire" rolled down the face of the administration building.
The intensity of the "strike" was felt across campus and damaged a variety of equipment.
Maintenance personnel said although their were redundant safety measures in place the electrical overload traveled through campus phone lines spreading to a variety of equipment including the gymnasium air conditioning units and the main telephone switching system.
By late July total damage had exceeded $100,000. Officials said once the control and phone systems are "stressed" with the influx of fall semester faculty and students any unknown damage should be quickly apparent.
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