By CYNTHIA HILL

Staff Writer

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In the past six years, freshman enrollment has climbed 55 percent and overall enrollment has increased by nearly 25 percent.

Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau said this growth was planned for.

"While this expansion has presented pressure, we have met these challenges with timely responses," Reneau said.

Dickie Crawford, dean of Student Life and Auxiliary Services, said, "When this university made the difficult decision to go with selective admissions, we initially had a decline in enrollment. But the student body we have built because of that decision is a very strong one."

These growing pains affect every aspect of campus life, whether in a small, indirect way or in a way that has an impact on a student each and every day, Crawford said.

Mike Michelle, director of Food Services, said he has been closely monitoring the traffic at the food court and the newly opened Tolliver Hall, making every effort to ensure students' dining needs are met and done so as quickly as possible.

"We know these kids have classes to get to and that their time is valuable." Michelle said.

"We are working to keep up with the steady growth pace."

Melanie Peel, coordinator of room assignments, has been a part of Tech's campus life for more than 10 years, first as a student and now as a full-time employee.

"With the increase in the number of students we have seen, we have literally been crammed into these spaces," Peel said.

"We have over 300 names on the waiting list for Hutcheson and Harper, with a wait of almost one academic year to get into these dorms. Upperclassmen are hesitant to give up this prime space, which offers privacy and convenience," she said.

University Park, an upscale facility that has been in the works for some time, will relieve some of the pressures on the housing facilities.

The two- and four-bedroom apartments are scheduled to open in September, initially offering almost 200 additional student rooms, Crawford said.

One of the selling points of these apartments will be their proximity to campus, with a pedestrian bridge linking them to the main facilities, Peel said.

"Being able to walk to campus would be wonderful," Paige Tabor, a junior sociology major, said. "I have been commuting for three years and I have to leave by 6:30 every morning just to get a parking place by 7:15."

Tabor said she is able to take advantage of the extra time on campus by studying.

Crawford said the nearly 1,000 newly added parking spaces should lessen the traffic congestion. He credits long-range planning by students and faculty with vision for the future, such as the Student Government Association, for these positive changes.

SGA treasurer Matt Hoffman, a sophomore biomedical engineering major, said, "We do our best to look ahead to the needs of future students. A perfect example of that is '20/20,' which was a direct result of long-term planning for increased parking."

Crawford said collecting $20 from students per quarter for 20 quarters would provide the necessary funding for that project, while other projects intended to accommodate the growing student body are still in the planning stages.

"While most young adults want instant gratification, Tech is lucky to have students who recognize the need to think things through and make plans that have a much more positive, lasting effect," Crawford said.

"Dr. Reneau and our staff have the ability to look at where we are and see where we need to be," Crawford said. "That is one of our greatest strengths."

Reneau said he has confidence in the upcoming step up in selective admissions and feels the university will see an even greater increase in enrollment.

"I will put my staff up against the staff of any university around," Reneau said. "But the caliber of our students is what makes others want to be here."