Posted at: 08/28/2012 6:40 PM
By: Gordon Severson

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Move-in Day Makes For a Busy Downtown Rochester

(ABC 6 NEWS ) -- A busy day in downtown Rochester as hundreds of college students moved into the dorms.

One year after opening the 318 Commons building, University of Minnesota Rochester continues to grow.

"We're bringing on about 155-160 new students," Assistant VP Chancellor Jay Hesley says.

Most new students will stay in the brand new 318 Commons.

Something administrators are trying to encourage.

"Nationwide across the board, GPA and retention rates are higher for students that live on campus than their off campus peers," UMR Housing Director Leslie Wallenfeldt says.

"The idea being right in the downtown area and in essence providing a place for the students to mix with the professionals. The people they may want to be after graduation. It’s just a huge advantage," Hesley explains.

An advantage more students are noticing as enrollment grows far beyond projected figures.

"It's awesome that we're getting bigger and better because being a new facility it takes a while to get things started. The city has been so supportive of UMR," Sophomore Alex Spindlery says.

"They're doing more of the student discounts noticing that we're having a growing student population," says fellow student Joshua Lawson.

With every new student it seems like there’s a new business ready to serve them.

Not only food, but new places to live, to buy groceries or just hang out.

As construction slowly moves South bringing more choices to students.

"It's like making history, like being George Washington or something. When I come back 20 years later, I guarantee you won't even be able to recognize the place," Residential Assistant Angelica Montano says.

With so many new students move-in day will last two days this year.

Several students will actually move into their dorms on Tuesday.