Kean University is quickly becoming the school of choice for many prospective higher education students. The 2010 Undergraduate Open House event marked one of the most successful in Kean's history. On Saturday, September 25, the open house hosted 1,980 attendees - a 44 percent increase from the September 2009 open house attendance. Kean University President Dawood Farahi delivered the 2010 open house welcoming address in one of the institutions most recent years' structures, Harwood Arena. There, Farahi highlighted the campus's continuous effort to expand and cater to the current and future generation of students. The turnout set the bar high for the 2010 Open House Program Series. Those in attendance were made up of representatives from every New Jersey County. High school senior students from neighboring states joined the open house, as well. Among the states in attendance were Delaware, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. New York was also widely represented at the program featuring students from even the Staten Island and Long Island sections.
Though those in attendance composed a strong local image, the visible aesthetic was one of diversity - a value that is no stranger to Kean's campus. In 2009, international students made up more of the Kean population than of out-of-state students. Approximately 70 countries are currently represented in the identity of the Kean population; perhaps, with this most recent open house success, Kean will be home to an even broader spectrum of the already celebrated diversity on its campus.

Visiting, prospective students and their parents filled the campus with wandering eyes and inquisitive minds. To welcome their college-bound ambitions, departments from all across campus came out to table their purpose and their services. The University Center atrium served as one of the hot-spots for campus information during the open house. The Kean Service Corps promoted volunteer opportunities to prospective students with a heart for humanitarianism; and President of Student Organization, Dare Thompson, mingled with the ambitious student leader potentials. Student ambassadors led crowds through campus tours demonstrating their vast knowledge and Kean pride. Even the Cougar, Kean's energetic mascot, took time out of his busy schedule to scout some new cougar blood among the crowds. Families gathered round the dancing cougar for photo opportunities and even to join in dance themselves.

With the campus's recent expansion to its resident housing, the 2010 fall semester broke records in the amount of students living on campus. The Office of Residence Life and Housing opened its doors to student tours of their facilities. Resident assistant students conducted tours of both freshman and upperclassman residence halls, showcasing each building's highlights, history, and camaraderie. During tours, prospective Kean students and their families were given tours of actual rooms of Kean University residents. The tours allowed the attendees to ask questions regarding living benefits and residence life culture, but also allowed for inquiry about Kean experience. If the tour reactions are any indication of what Kean's 2011-2012 year will bring to campus residency, the registration process will be prove to be at its most competitive.

As Kean continues to be home to one of the most affordable universities in the state and a country-wide contender for most diverse, next year's incoming student populations will prove to be reflective of the university itself - prolific and prosperous.