MACON – Boxes, trunks, lamps and even stuffed animals lined the sidewalks around Mercer's residence halls as new students arrived on campus for fall semester on Aug. 17. Faculty and staff joined families in helping the 625 freshmen and 148 transfer students settle into their new living quarters away from home. Parents visited on campus and shared time with their student in the University's new dining facility before waving goodbye.

An annual event anticipated by the University and Macon communities, Mercer Move-in Day was a touching and emotional time in the life of new Mercer students who officially began their college experience on Saturday. Part of Mercer's tradition of personal attention and service, faculty and staff assisted the first-year students as they moved into the residence halls before beginning their fall orientation that afternoon.

Students came to a campus with continuing construction projects, such as the $40 million University Center as well as completed projects such as the student dining facility and Coleman Avenue streetscape on the University's side of Coleman Avenue.