PHOTO: an image of students gathered at the 2022 Space Bash held at the Rec Center on campus. — Students gathered in the Rec Center to attend Space Bash 2022. Photo by The Signal Reporter, Daria Glasscock.

Fall Semester begins with rise in students on campus

By Daria Glasscock On Sep 13, 2022 237 0

It has been nearly three years since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic started and many students are ready to get back to their normal lifestyles. Although the pandemic is not over, students are becoming more comfortable participating in in-person activities.

The fall 2022 semester kicked off with an increase in students on campus. During the weekdays, students roamed through the halls and participated in various events.

Student worker and biology major Vanessa Melendez has been a student worker since May 2021. Melendez is one of many students who have recognized the greater population on campus.

“This is my first time seeing such a lively campus,” Melendez said. “There is more stuff to do now that there are so many people here. I feel like more organizations are hosting more events and things now. There is more excitement I would say.”

This increase in student engagement comes as UHCL offers more face-to-face courses for this fall semester.

Kara Hadley-Shakya, executive director of recruitment & admissions at the Office of Admissions, is one of many recognizing this new generation of students.

“A lot of our new students coming in as freshman are a part of what I like to call the ‘COVID generation’ meaning they spent pivotal points throughout the last couple years of their high school experience during the pandemic where everything was different,” Hadley-Shakya said.

For Daniel Ramirez, assistant vice president of Marketing and Communications, the increase in activity on campus is a bit jarring.

“It’s been quite a change seeing so many students on campus,” Ramirez said. “Walking in and seeing all the students around talking, laughing and engaging, it’s certainly been a welcoming and refreshing change.”

Ramirez said his office wants to take the opportunity to showcase the liveliness on campus this Fall to show new incoming students what the university is all about.

“For me, it builds into how can we highlight this, and how can we showcase this more?” Ramirez said. “How can we allow students to get a peek into the daily life of UHCL?”

As students continue to populate the campus, Hadley-Shakya and her department work to ensure they are connecting with students and assessing students’ thoughts about the campus.

“Student feedback is crucial,” Hadley-Shakya said. “Getting feedback from new students, helps the Office of Admissions to know exactly what needs to be done or improved so that these freshmen have a smooth transition into their new college life.”