University of Alabama President Dr. Stuart Bell expects to break records in freshman and overall enrollment for the fall semester in Tuscaloosa, which begins Wed., August 22.

Bell expressed excitement over these numbers during a Wednesday press conference. The enrollment numbers will be finalized in a few weeks. He said last year’s freshman class was 8,037 students, and overall enrollment was 38,645.

“We are continuing to break records and continue to serve our students in a remarkable way,” Bell said.

First-year students are required to live on campus for the purpose of student enrichment, according to Bell.

“We believe that living on campus provides you better preparation of the resources that we have available (and) get you involved in those student organizations that are important to your life,” Bell said.

According to the director of housing administration Alicia Browne, all first-year students have received a housing assignment. She said some students request exemptions to live off-campus to room with siblings or extended family.

“We consider individual circumstances,” Browne said. The total number of students with assigned housing, including upper-level students, is 9,000. There are 416 of these students assigned to an off-campus apartment complex with a leasing contract with the university.

“We had a waiting list earlier in the summer to manage the numbers for freshmen,” Browne said. She said those on the waiting list received assignments by the end of July.

More fall semester updates from Bell:

Public Safety: Dr. Bell said university police increased the number of officers from 72 to 94 and expected to reach at least 100. He added that facilities management widened some sidewalks on campus, and there’s additional lighting, particularly on University Boulevard, otherwise known as “The Strip.” There are new regulations on The Strip for game days and a joint police substation with the Tuscaloosa Police Department at 1209 University Blvd., which is next to Taco Bell and across the street from Publix.

New construction: The university will complete its 29th construction project before class starts. This includes the new Drummond Lyon Hall, which houses the Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design Department and the Fashion Archive.

Diversity: There are no plans to change recruiting or diversity efforts since the Supreme Court effectively ended Affirmative Action at institutions of higher learning in June. Bell said there are students from every state, the District of Columbia, and 92 other countries.