Brody Swisher says he's excited to be part of the first freshmen class at OSU-Cascades.
Amanda Peacher / OPB
Oregon State University welcomed its first class of incoming freshmen to its Central Oregon branch Friday.
The orientation was at the OSU building on the campus of Central Oregon Community College. That's where teachers will hold most classes while construction continues on the new campus in west Bend. The OSU-Cascades freshmen start school in September, without a campus of their own.
"It's hard to imagine that no one has really done this before,"said Brody Swisher, an incoming freshman from Bend.
Swisher said he was keeping an eye on plans for OSU-Cascades throughout high school because he wanted to stay in Bend. He's interested in being on the ski team, and plans to major in computer science.
Swisher said he's glad to be part of the inaugural freshman class.
"It's kind of cool," Swisher said. "I hope to leave my mark here on the school in its infant stage."
OSU-Cascades was originally hoping to attract 100 freshmen for its inaugural year, but it's now anticipating 60 to 75 first-year students. Thirty-six freshmen attended the summer orientation. The admissions department says it expects more students to commit before the fall term begins.
OSU originally delayed campus construction during legal challenges by opponents of the west Bend location. But after a state decision in favor of OSU-Cascades, the university broke ground, despite further legal appeals. The university said the first 10 acres of the west side location will be complete in fall 2016.
