By Jaci Schneider, Copy Editor

About 1,000 freshmen arrived on campus last week to begin their college career by participating in Welcome Week, said Robert Heil, director of Admissions and Enrollment Management.

Although many first–year students often change their mind about remaining at the university during the first few weeks of the semester because college life wasn’t what they expected, or they want to move closer to home; however, students also make the decision to come to the university late based on those same reasons, Heil said in an e-mail.

“There is some natural transition throughout the first couple weeks of the semester,” he said. “The numbers and reasons vary.”

Although 1,003 students graduated last year, Heil said this year’s freshman class is one of the largest in recent history.

“Overall enrollment should be comparable to last year,” Heil said, although official enrollment numbers aren’t taken until the 12th class day of the semester.

“ACU’s current enrollment positions us as one of the largest private universities in the Southwest,” Heil said. He said he thinks the university will continue it’s high enrollment numbers, which have ranged from 4675 — to 4780 in the past few years.

Heil said that the university’s high enrollment numbers and consistently large freshman classes show the demand for the kind of education the university offers.

“We have outstanding undergraduate and graduate programs,” Heil said. “ACU is a great option for students who are looking for an exceptional education in an environment that encourages students to put Christ first in everything they do.”