Temple University welcomes one of its largest classes on Move-In Day

PHILADELPHIA (WPHL) — While unloading pillows, a desk mirror, plants and even a weighted hula-hoop, the Vadher parents are two of hundreds who are helping their Temple University college freshmen move into their dormitories Tuesday morning.

“This is our second time doing this,” said Deepika Vadher, who is helping her daughter, Jaanvi, move into the dorms. “Now we’re empty nesters and I can tell the parents to just enjoy the time with them [children], they’ll be fine.”

Upper classman volunteers, campus police, the Temple’s spirit squad and the school band were all on-hand waiting to welcome the new students as a full day of activities, assignments and check-ins kick off.

“It was pretty hectic,” remembers Noah Barr on his day moving into the dorms. “I had the band and all this stuff to take care of that first day moving in. I had from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to move in and then it was go, go, go.”

“I just remember being very excited to move from my nest to another nest and meet a bunch of new friends” said Nasir Pittman, captain of the Spirit Squad . “We’re welcoming them [new students] in from all over the world with a really hype band and a really hype dance team.”

The Class of 2028 is the largest class arriving at Temple in several years, with nearly 5,000 new first-year students and 3,600 first-year and transfer residential students. The class is also one of the most diverse batches enrolling in Temple’s history with more than 50% of its new students identifying as people of color. According to the university , deposits from Philadelphia residents are up 59%. More than half of Philadelphian students have qualified for the new Temple Promise program, ensuring that financial barriers will not affect their education. As for students coming from across Pennsylvania, deposits are up 20% Out-of-state student deposits are up 41%, and international student deposits are up 32% compared to last year.

Move-in Day continues through Thursday, August 22. On Friday, August 23, the university will meet for a convocation with Templefest taking flight afterwards. This is when new Owls will walk through the student involvement fair on campus. Returning students will introduce them to the more than 350 student organizations, over 35 campus departments and multiple off-campus vendors.

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