News Summary
William & Mary is thrilled to welcome over 1,500 freshmen to its campus as the new academic year approaches. With 4,416 students expected to move in, new residence halls Poplar Hall and Maple Hall are ready for students despite ongoing construction challenges. The university is ensuring temporary housing for 900 students. With support from orientation aides, freshmen are excited to begin their journey at the university. Classes start on August 27, with family orientation planned for August 22.
Williamsburg – William & Mary has welcomed over 1,500 freshmen to its campus just days ahead of the new school year, marking the start of an exciting academic journey for many students. The bustling atmosphere on campus as students and their families arrived highlighted the university’s thriving community in preparation for the fall 2025 semester.
By Saturday, a total of 4,416 students are expected to move into their dorms. Among them, approximately 120 new students have moved into Poplar Hall, one of two new residence halls that opened this semester. The second residence hall, Maple Hall, primarily accommodates upperclassmen and is situated next to Poplar Hall. Both dormitories are part of the university’s expansion initiative in the West Woods area, which includes the ongoing construction of Pine Hall, Oak Hall, and a new dining hall.
Although some of the new dormitory facilities are still under construction, Poplar Hall opened its doors on Wednesday, boasting amenities such as kitchens and lounge areas on each floor, according to the director of housing and residence life. However, due to construction delays, approximately 900 students will temporarily reside in alternate housing until Cedar, Pine, and Oak Halls are projected to be completed by mid-to-late October. The university has arranged accommodations for these students at Green & Gold Village and Richmond Hall, while upperclassmen will be housed in Colonial Williamsburg’s Woodlands Hotel & Suites.
To assist with transportation, a free charter bus service will connect students with the Woodlands Hotel. Furthermore, those placed in temporary housing will receive a daily rebate of $22.50, which amounts to 50% of the regular daily room rent. The specific causes of the construction delays have not been fully determined, but factors such as inspections, subcontractor availability, weather conditions, and material shortages have contributed.
As students transitioned into campus life, the excitement was palpable. Freshman Sophia Sutton-Ayala, who relocated from Texas, expressed a mix of nervousness and enthusiasm about her new environment. She plans to focus her studies on psychology and marine science. Another freshman, Christopher Brady from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, shared that he experienced “mixed emotions” while moving in but appreciated the assistance from orientation aides. Brady is considering a major in data science but has not yet declared a field of study. Other new students, like Amanda Leung (17, New Jersey) and Izabella Reichel (18, Northern Virginia), have expressed aspirations to study public policy and finance, and computer science and math respectively.
To facilitate the adaptation to college life, students received support from older peers, including sophomore resident assistants like Olivia Jordan, and junior orientation aides such as Madeleine Hess, who exhibited an authentic enthusiasm for guiding newcomers through their transition.
The official start of classes is set for August 27, coinciding with the university’s opening convocation. This event will feature a keynote address from alumnus Darpan Kapadia, the Chief Operating Officer of LS Power and vice-chair of the William & Mary Foundation Board of Trustees. Family Orientation is scheduled for the day prior, August 22, ensuring that families also have a chance to engage with the university community before the school year begins. Returning upper-level students are expected to move in on August 24.
Despite the construction delays affecting some of the new dorms, the anticipated openings of Cedar, Pine, and Oak Halls have been pushed back to mid-to-late October, subject to further changes. The dining hall associated with the West Woods expansion is now slated to open in January 2026.
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Additional Resources
- WYDaily: First-Year and New Transfer Student Move-In at William & Mary
- Google Search: William and Mary
- Daily Press: Freshmen Get a Warm Welcome on Move-In Day
- Wikipedia: College of William and Mary
- Flat Hat: College Announces Delay in Completion of New Residential Buildings
- Google Scholar: William and Mary
- 13 News Now: William & Mary Releases Plan for Returning Students and Faculty
- Encyclopedia Britannica: William and Mary
- New York Times: New York Rental – Coney Island Surfing
Author: STAFF HERE WILLIAMSBURG WRITER
WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER The WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREWilliamsburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Williamsburg, James City County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Williamsburg Farmers Market, Yorktown Market Days, and Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, plus leading businesses in education and hospitality that power the local economy such as College of William & Mary, The Williamsburg Winery, and Sodexo. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREVirginiaBeach.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Virginia's dynamic landscape.
