The Excitement and Challenges of OWU's Record Breaking Freshman Class

Ohio Wesleyan University welcomed its largest class size in 17 years this fall. The milestone created some changes across campus. Dining halls are more crowded, housing options are limited, and just more people everywhere. It has raised some concerns about long-term impact on students and faculty, even though this enrollment reflects positive growth for Ohio Wesleyan.

Senior Areli Hernandez has been attending Ohio Wesleyan for four years and expressed some concern about strain on housing and dining services. 

“The housing crisis is so bad, they had to reopen Thompson, which had been closed for years, and they also made Welch Hall freshman housing due to the increase of students.” 

She added that dining hall hours and food options were also reduced at the same time that the student population increased, making it “so hard to get food at any time.” 

Hernandez said lines have also extended into campus events, which were originally designed to accommodate the entire community.

As an upperclassman Hernandez doesn’t face any classroom challenges. However, she did note that she’s heard professors discuss the possibility of increasing class sizes in the future to meet capacity.

Faculty members have also been adapting to the larger student body. Professor John Krygier, has taught at Ohio Wesleyan since 1999, said that his lower-level classes have significantly grown. 

“I’ve had to rely a little on other people to help students because my class size has gotten bigger,” Krygier said. 

He now directs students seeking assignment revisions to the writing center, as he does not have time to provide individualized feedback for everyone. He has also incorporated artificial intelligence tools into a major class project, helping students manage assignments more effectively despite larger class sizes.

Looking ahead, both Hernandez and Krygier raised concerns about sustainability. Hernandez predicts that the campus atmosphere will increase to prioritize freshmen, given their large number. 

Krygier emphasized the need for more faculty and stronger academic programs to support future growth. 

“The administration has had to hire more part-time faculty. Faculty members have had to figure out how to offer more sections of classes to meet capacity. With no growth of faculty, they had to find ways to keep class sizes small.”

Despite these challenges, many view the record enrollment as a success story. A significant factor in the increase was the Delaware County Promise, which provides tuition-free education for local high school graduates. 

Krygier noted that this initiative has contributed to a more diverse student population and expanded opportunities for students who might not have otherwise attended college. 

“The campus has gotten more diverse over the years, and there are different types of faces all over campus,” he said. “The university has some issues, but it’s in a better place now than it was in previous years.”

Ohio Wesleyan’s largest incoming class has brought both excitement and growing pains. As the university continues to expand, balancing opportunity with resources will remain a key challenge.