Chapman University moves students in for new school year

They came ready to learn, with everything they’ll need for the new school year and probably some stuff they’ll find they won’t really.

First-year students and transfer students were moving into Chapman University dorms on Tuesday, including Henley Hall, the largest residence hall on campus.

About 2,000 new Panthers are joining the Chapman student body this academic year, between the first-years and transfer students, university officials said. About a quarter of them are the first in their family to go to college and more than 60% are at least an hour drive away from home.

Students come from around California, but also the country — the top five feeder states for new students this year are Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Texas and Washington, Chapman officials said.

Chapman’s student body is also about 5% international, with the most coming from Canada, China, Mexico, Singapore, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.

The Argyros College of Business and Economics, the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, the Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences and the Schmid College of Science & Technology were the five most popular with these new students. Chapman boasts 11 schools and colleges.

The university assigns students their housing based on which college they are going to, creating “living-learning communities” of similar interests, officials said.

Henley Hall is home to students who will be studying film and media, performing arts, engineering and business and economics.

On Tuesday, many were studying their room layouts, maximizing space and getting everything in place before the busy weeks ahead.

Classes start on Monday, Aug. 25.