An estimated 615 new students – 540 freshmen and 75 transfer students – will arrive on the Alfred University campus Thursday, Aug. 23 for four days of orientation before the start of fall semester classes on Monday, Aug. 27.

Alfred’s Admissions Office received 3,330 applications during this past recruiting cycle, a record number and a 29.3 percent increase from the 2009 figures, said Corry D. Unis, director of Admissions.

“We are anticipating the second largest freshman class (in history),” said Unis. Last year’s entering class was the largest to date.

In addition, “we saw a 17-point gain in SAT and GPA (grade point average) of deposited/enrolled students,” said Unis. Other identifiers for the entering students:  “The class of 2016 breaks down 50-50 between males and females with 21 percent identifying themselves as multicultural.” Unis also noted that 25.5 percent of the new students are coming from outside New York State.

Unis also noted the five most popular majors in the Class of 2016 are art & design, biology, business administration, mechanical engineering, and psychology.

Orientation Guides and members of fall sports teams will help new students move in and become acclimated with campus.

On Thursday, Aug. 23, check-in for new students will take place from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the McLane Center. An opening picnic for students and their families will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., also at McLane. An Orientation session for parents will be held at 3 p.m. in Holmes Auditorium, Harder Hall.

On Friday at 9:15 a.m., the new students will take part in what has become the annual “Allen Walk” tradition from the Powell Campus Center to McLane Center for the Opening Convocation, where AU President Charles M. Edmondson and Student Senate President Ana Devlin-Gauthier will welcome them.

At 8:30 Friday night, former Syracuse University, NFL and CFL Quarterback Don McPherson will speak in Holmes Auditorium, Harder Hall, on vital and contemporary issues that impact the lives of every college student, using the power and appeal of sports.

Saturday’s activities will include a series of sessions on various topics, from the history of Alfred University to how to do research, as well as presentations by various clubs and organizations.

Activities Sunday include the New Student Olympics at Merrill Field, a competition among teams from various residence halls.

Upperclassmen will return to campus throughout the weekend, Aug. 25 and 26.

The 2012 Alfred University Freshman Orientation Schedule of activities includes:

Thursday, Aug. 23

• 8 a.m.-1 p.m.-Campus Check-In (McLane Center)
• 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.-Bookstore Open (Powell Campus Center)
• 10 a.m.-Campus Tours (Alumni Hall)
• 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.-Opening Picnic (McLane Lawn)
• 2 p.m.-4 p.m.-General College Sessions and Advising Hours
• 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.-Parents’ Orientation (Harder Hall, Holmes Auditorium)
• 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.-Free Time and Goodbyes (Throughout Campus)
• 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.-Dinner (Ade Dining Hall)
• 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.-First-Year Hall Meeting (Harder Hall, Holmes Auditorium)
• 7:30 p.m.-Transfer & Commuter Student Reception (Susan Howell Hall)
• 9 p.m.-Playfair (McLane Center)

Friday, Aug. 24

• 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m.-Breakfast (Ade Dining Hall)
• 9:15 a.m.-2012 Opening Convocation (McLane Center)
• 11 a.m.-Dean’s Informational Meetings (Various Locations)
• 12 p.m.-Small Group Discussion & Lunch (Same Location as Dean’s Meetings)
• 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.-Advising Hours (Various Locations Throughout Campus)
• 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.-Language Placement Exam (Science Center, Room Lecture Hall)
• 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.-New Student Barbecue (Brick Lawn/if rain, Ade Hall)
• 8:30 p.m.-Maximize the Experience (Harder Hall, Holmes Auditorium)
• 10 p.m. & 12 a.m.-Movie: Men in Black 3 (Powell Center, Nevins Theater)
• 10 p.m.-Team Trivia (Powell Center, Knight Club)

Saturday, Aug. 25

• 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m.-Breakfast (Ade Dining Hall)
• 9 a.m.-9:45 a.m.-College Work-Study Meeting
• 10 a.m.-10:45 a.m.-Perkins Loan Meeting
• 11 a.m.-“Diversity and Social Justice: Making the Connection, Building Community” (Harder Hall, Holmes Auditorium)
• 2 p.m. & 3 p.m.-The New Student Conference-each student chooses two to attend

(a)   Exam Survival: Tools and Tips for More Effective Studying-Olin Building, Room 301

(b)  Smarty Party-Olin Building, Room 310

(c)   Research Power!-Scholes Library, Classroom 221

(d)  Study Abroad from Those Who Have Been There-Olin Building, Room 309

(e)   Your Academic Advisor: A Lifeline to Student Success-Olin Building, Room 306

(f)   Leaders at Alfred: Born or Made? Both!-Olin Building, Room 210

(g)  Diversity at Alfred University-Olin Building, Room 311

(h)  New Things to Do With Paper Besides Making Spitballs-Olin Building, Room 307

(i)    Undeclared But Not Scared-Olin Building, Room 207

(j)    AU in a Click: Your Guide to Hassle-Free Campus Computing-Olin Building, Room 214

(k)  Drawn to Diversity & The Art Force Five-Scholes Library, 2nd Floor Lobby

(l)    Take a Walk on AU’s Wild Side-Olin Building, Room 302

• 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.-Dinner (Ade Dining Hall)
• 5:30 p.m.-Transfer and Commuter Student Dinner (Susan Howell Hall)
• 5:30 p.m.-Honors Student Orientation (8 Park Street)
• 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m.-Activities Fair and Block Party (Powell Center Plaza, First Floor)
• 9:30 p.m.-Comedian Jamie Lissow (Harder Hall, Holmes Auditorium)
• 10:30 p.m.-1 a.m.-Alfred Dance Showcase & Party (Knight Club, Powell Center)

Sunday, Aug. 26

• 9 a.m.-10 a.m.-Continental Breakfast (Ade Dining Hall)
• 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.-Brunch (Ade Dining Hall)
• 12 p.m.-Transfer Student Barbecue (Village Bandstand, Main Street)
• 1:30-New Student Olympics (Merrill Field)
• 3 p.m.-5 p.m.-Daggett Equestrian Center Tour and Foster Lake Hike (vans will depart from Powell Campus Center)
• 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.-Dinner (Ade Dining Hall)
• 6 p.m.-7 p.m.-Saxon Sidekicks: Join up, Meet up! (Knight Club, Powell Center)
• 7 p.m.-“Death by Chocolate” (Honors Reception, 8 Park St.)