After waving goodbye to mom and dad, moving into their residence halls and spending a week on campus immersed in orientation activities, the 604 incoming and 86 transfer students that comprise the University of Redlands Class of 2020 will commence their academic journeys when classes begin Tuesday.

The class hails from 39 states and 14 countries with women outnumbering the men 56 percent to 44 percent. About 34 percent are among the first generation in their families to attend college. Popular majors for the class include psychology, business, premed, music, biology and communicative disorders. Almost 24 percent were recruited as student athletes and about eight percent were recruited to the School of Music.

At the opening convocation, University President Ralph Kuncl challenged the students, “And as we approach our 108th school year, I am reminded of what I discovered, and what has inspired my involvement in education:  that you must never stop learning.  It is that enthusiasm, hard work, and desire to be a student of excellence that must be embraced with an open heart and, hopefully, a curious mind.”

The 5-day New Student Orientation event began Wednesday at the residence halls with the official move-in day. Students were invited to have lunch together in the Quad and the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies held its annual Welcome Circle.

The University president held a welcome reception and convocation and students were invited for food and games during Playfair at the Greek Theatre.

The events also included lunch and live music at the Hunsaker Plaza, a nighttime Pajammy Jammy Jam party, ghost stories around the fire pit and movies on an outdoor screen in the Frosh Quad.