Although the Mount Vernon Campus will exclusively house freshmen for the first time this fall, officials said it will not significantly impact life at the suburban campus. But students will see the addition of a new residence hall and possible improvements in dining options and shuttle service.

“This isn’t going to have a major effect because we are only talking about 80 more freshmen,” said Grae Baxter, Mount Vernon Executive Dean.

Next year 480 freshmen will live at Mount Vernon, up from 438 students last year. According to statistics from Housing Services, the number of students living on the campus has increased 69 percent since 1999.

To accommodate extra residents at Mount Vernon, Cole Hall will be renovated to provide 37 more beds, Director of Housing Services, Andrew Sonn, told the Hatchet in April.

The University is also considering increasing the number of shuttles or extending shuttle hours. John Kane, operations manager for Mount Vernon, said shuttle use has increased 70 percent in the last year. He attributes the rise to more classes and activities held there.

But Baxter said in April that there has not been enough demand for the shuttle service to run 24 hours. The shuttle currently runs from 6 a.m. to 2 .a.m. Students traveling during hours it is not running can obtain taxi voucher.

“We don’t want a shuttle (running 24 hours) when two or three people use it in a four-hour period,” she said.

Students disagreed.

“It needs to become a 24-hour service. Where’s the incentive to live on another campus if you can’t get to the main campus anytime you need to?” said sophomore Kevin Sullivan, who lives on Foggy Bottom.

A Dining Services official said the University is considering improvements to MVC dining options. While weekend brunch and the Tuesday night specials that include lobster and steak will continue, the dining official said the Dining Services hopes to expand the brunch menu and improve Ames, the Mount Vernon dining hall. Ideas include adding a rotisserie, remodeling Ames to include more options like a low-fat deli and holding Wednesday night barbeques during the fall.

“The brunch at MVC is the best meal of the week on campus,” junior Mark Frank said. “The Tuesday night dinner specials also aren’t bad, how many colleges offered a freshly grilled steak on their meal plan?”

Nothing has been approved, and Dining Services will present their ideas to the University this summer, the official said.

Freshman living at Mount Vernon usually requested to live there or enroll in the Women’s Leadership Program that requires residency at the campus, the program’s headquarters. Others are assigned to live there after turning in late housing preferences.

Baxter said students’ responses about Mount Vernon living varies. Some assigned to the campus discover they love it for its “small, liberal arts college atmosphere,” while others try to live elsewhere.

“It’s a double-edge sword,” said sophomore Tony Spiliotopoulos, an ex-Mount Vernon resident. “It’s great when you need to be alone or when you want to study, but on weekends, it is not so much fun. But I think it’s best to remember you can always party at Thurston and come home to a calm place to sleep.”

-Andrea Nurko contributed to this report.