Students Return to WSU for the Fall Semester SEATTLE, WA (N3) - Washington State University officials say they expect strong enrollment numbers for the new academic year, which began yesterday (Monday). KPLU's Glenn Mosley reports.

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Official enrollment figures won't be available until the ten day mark of the semester, but WSU officials say the indications are that despite the tight economy, the university will have strong freshmen class enrollment for the second year in a row. WSU President Elson Floyd says the transition from last year's financial troubles to this year has gone smoothly:

FLOYD: "We weren't quite sure, with the fiscal crisis, and the response that we had as a consequence of that. We've been very aggressive regarding the continued recruitment and admission of students."

About 3,350 freshmen are expected this semester, the second largest number in school history.

Also new on the Pullman campus this fall is a new student housing complex, the first built in Pullman since 1971, and a new biotechnology research building, built for about $73 million dollars.

Across the state, WSU has new buildings at its campuses in Spokane and Vancouver and an increase in new students at its campus in the Tri- Cities of fourteen percent.

I'm Glenn Mosley reporting. © Copyright 2010, N3