By Dick Mason

Observer Staff Writer

Eastern Oregon University's campus began percolating Monday with the start of fall-term classes.

Students were scurrying in and out of all classroom buildings except one — the new wing of EOU's science center. The opening of the building for classes has been delayed for less than a week. Minor alterations have to be made in one of the entryways so the building can meet fire code.

The 67,000 square-foot science building will be open for classes sometime between Oct. 1 and Oct. 6, said Tim Seydel, assistant vice president for university advancement.

The delay means that science classes have had to be moved to classrooms in other buildings throughout campus. Because of the domino affect this creates, some non-science classes have also had to be moved.

Lists of relocated classes have been posted on EOU's academic Web site, www.eou.edu/academics, and throughout campus.

EOU professors moved into their offices in the new building over the summer. Students are coming into the building to meet with professors for scheduling advice.

The new science wing will have a dramatic impact on Eastern's future. The wing features 27 high-tech labs, a large greenhouse, many classrooms and a 7,500 square-foot biotech lab that is being completed.

The science center has been built as a part of a $33.5 million project that includes the renovation of EOU's old science building, Badgley Hall. The renovation of Badgley will be completed over the next year along with the construction of a 150-seat lecture hall that will be part of the science center.

The academic year formally kicks off this afternoon with EOU's annual fall convocation. It begins at 3:15 p.m. at McKenzie Theatre in Loso Hall. Eastern's Dean's List students and those who won scholarships will be saluted.

"It sets the tone for academic excellence for the year,'' said Sherri Edvalson, director of admissions.

About 2,000 students are on campus, but EOU's exact number will not be known until official enrollment figures are tabulated in October.

Preliminary figures indicate that applications for admission are down 1.9 percent from a year ago, Edvalson said. Applications for admissions must be submitted by new students, including high school graduates and transfer students.

EOU's enrollment has increased significantly over the past four years. Enrollment was up 15.9 percent last fall, 6.97 percent in 2001, 6.63 percent in 2000 and 6.61 percent in 1999.

This fall Eastern's enrollment includes more than 100 international students from 28 countries including Japan, Mongolia, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Bulgaria and Switzerland.