GREENVILLE -- Thiel College begins its 136th academic year this week when members of the class of 2006 arrive on campus for orientation activities.

Roughly 411 new freshmen will join the student body this year, helping to kick the enrollment figure above last year's. The college expects about 1,300 students on campus for the start of fall classes on Monday. Last year's headcount registered at 1,189.

New freshmen will be welcomed at the annual opening convocation ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the William A. Passavant Memorial Center. Dr. Lance A. Masters, Thiel president and CEO, is to host the convocation and join faculty and staff in welcoming the new students, parents and friends.

A gala for new students and their families will follow the ceremony on the Howard Miller Student Center terrace and lawn. Orientation activities for freshmen continue the rest of the week. The culmination of the orientation program is a class trip to New River Gorge in West Virginia.