Stuffing in those frosh at St. Thomas

Nationaal Archief via Flickr

Rise and shine, Tommies

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

Almost 200 more freshman than expected have chosen to enroll at St. Thomas this fall, and the upcoming surge has administrators scrambling.

The largest freshman class in St. Thomas history (1,522) will change class sizes, faculty-student ratios and class registration, which might prompt the university to hire more adjunct professors.

It'll also hit housing.

Officials are turning a number of facilities into student quarters -- at least for the time being.

Among the conversions:

  • Koch Fitness Center

  • Lounges in Brady Hall and Dowling Hall

  • A few empty chaplain rooms

Sorry, guys: Although the university has housing for all the female freshmen, more than 40 men are on a waiting list. One official said that some of them might have to commute -- or decide not to enroll in St. Thomas at all.