Rose Graft, a Northwest College sophomore RA, has already seen the difference from the start of last school year. She said she sees so many more people hanging out in the lobby at her residence hall Lewis and Clark.

“This year everybody’s playing pool, or just talking in the lounge areas,” she said. “It’s been nice having people get out and try to be social.”

There’s been more of a buzz in the air than in recent years on the NWC campus leading up to the start of classes Wednesday. 

Lee Blackmore, NWC residence and campus life director, attributes it to an increase in residential students this year. At last count there were roughly 40 more than last year, meaning 306 students have moved in to mostly single occupancy rooms throughout Simpson, Lewis and Clark, and Colter residence halls. 

“Our kickoff weekend participation activities have increased dramatically,” he said. “It’s awesome, it’s creating a buzz on campus, there’s an excitement.”

He said the already popular activities and intramural scene is only getting more popular as well.

“What we’re seeing is students are just choosing to participate, get involved,” he said. “That adds to that energy, sense of community connection.”

The increase in students is still far below a decade ago, when Cody Hall was still online and Blackmore said there were 650 students living on campus, but back then most rooms were double occupancy. Now, that’s the exception. A plan put in place during Covid to reduce transmission has become the new normal.

The plan was for 25 double occupancy rooms and while Blackmore said that’s gone up a bit, most students and their parents are asking for single rooms even with the higher cost. 

“There are still a portion who want cost savings, or a roommate,” he said. “But we’ll tell parents there are doubles available and they will say they want the student in a single.”

And while Blackmore said the current three halls are nearly at full capacity, there is opportunity for the college to offer more dorm rooms while staying mostly single occupancy. He said Ashley Hall is currently not being used in order to receive interior decorating, but when that’s done it’ll again be available if the trend of increased residential students continues. 

While most students may be sleeping in their own rooms, they’re still making much more time to get out and mingle. It’s what Graft, who grew up on a farm without many friends, said she loves about being the rare Powell resident in the dorms. 

“Last year many people were still wearing masks,” she said. “Most of our kids are from other states that were more shut down than Wyoming. Now I feel like everything is back to normal. It’s not quite movie-like, but it’s getting there.

“Now living in the halls I’ve made more friends than I have in my entire life. it’s totally worth it.”