‘We’re ready’: TU campus springs to life for fall semester

August 20, 2021

Towson University’s students are returning to the campus, decorating their residence hall spaces, traversing Tiger Way and getting their favorite bite to eat from West Village Commons. For some, it will be a reunion with friends, faculty and staff, while for others it will be the first of many unforgettable experiences on campus.

TU students come from all walks of life. There are more than 4,992 new students joining TU this fall. That includes 2,600 students who make up TU’s most diverse first-year student class on record. More than 80 percent of the class comes from Maryland. New students are coming from 20 states and the District of Columbia, and 23 countries around the globe.

They join more than 16,000 returning students who will enjoy all TU has to offer as a top 100 national public institution providing leadership for the public good.

“Our students are ready to be back—all of our residence halls will be full—and we’re ready for them to be back,” said Vernon Hurte, vice president of student affairs. “I’m thankful for our staff and faculty who have pulled out all the stops to make the return to campus this fall possible, and to help create even more opportunities for our students to take advantage of the momentum here at TU.”

Residential student move-in is underway and fall semester classes begin on Monday, Aug. 30.

Here is what students can expect when they return.

Welcome To TU

Excitement is building for “Welcome to TU,” which is a series of events across campus that start with the first day of move-in on Aug. 25, running through Sept. 6.

The cornerstone of “Welcome to TU” will be New Student Convocation, which serves as the official start of the Towson University journey for new students. This year, TU is hosting two Convocation events — one for first-year students (Aug. 27, 10 a.m. at SECU Arena) and another for students transferring in and returning sophomores (Aug. 27, 5 p.m. at SECU Arena).

“Over the last year, we really learned about what people wanted, so this year we wanted to translate that into how we open and create an exciting environment for students to return to,” says Katie Murray, director of New Student and Family Programs.

Find a full list of Welcome to TU events and more via the Towson University events website.

Getting Involved on Campus

There are more than 300 groups at TU that fall under such categories as academic, cultural, artistic, Fraternity & Sorority Life, honors, service, sports and more. You can learn more about Towson University’s student organizations by checking out the Involved@TU website.

Students will also get a chance to meet in-person with hundreds of TU’s student organizations during the annual Fall Student Involvement Fair, which takes place on Thursday, Sept. 9 starting at 4 p.m. on Burdick Field.

“I think we’ve come to a really good spot with both large programming and small programming that will continue through the middle of September,” Murray says. “There are over 200-plus events for students to get involved, get connected and find their place.”  

TU Athletics

TU boasts 19 Division I men’s and women’s athletics teams and brings national championship buzz to campus each year. Students receive free admission to all Towson Tigers sporting events, including football and men’s and women’s basketball games. Get tickets through the Towson Gameday app, and learn more on the Tigers athletics website.

Health & Safety Requirements

To be in compliance with the University System of Maryland's mandate, students, faculty & staff must be fully vaccinated or have an approved vaccine exemption before the start of the fall term. Get the latest information regarding vaccine requirements and opportunities on TU’s vaccination page[BROKEN LINK].

TU continues to follow federal, state and local guidance regarding health and safety guidelines. Find the latest guidance about mask requirements and more on TU’s COVID-19 response and planning page.

Campus changes

TU’s campus has evolved since the end of the spring term. This fall, TU will open Phase 1 of the expanded University Union in the heart of campus. It will provide new student gathering and dining spaces. Phase 2 of construction will complete the modernization of the building in spring 2022.

The Science Complex opened in spring 2021, and is the largest academic space on campus. This summer, TU broke ground on the College of Health Professions building, which will bring the state’s largest provider of health professionals under a single roof for the first time. Renovations are also underway on the Glen Towers.

Find construction updates and pedestrian detour information on TU’s campus construction page.

Dining

All Towson University students can choose from 16 varied dining locations on campus.  Students can see dining hall hours, menus, locations, available dining plans and nutritional information on the TU Dining Services website.

Parking

Students, faculty and staff can now purchase their fall 2021 term parking permits. Learn more about student parking permits and regulations by checking out the student parking website