DATE: Tuesday, August 26, 1997              TAG: 9708260349

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MATTHEW BOWERS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   62 lines

CLASS IS IN, SUMMER OUT FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS AREA UNIVERSITIES ARE OPENING DOORS FOR FALL CLASSES.

South Hampton Roads, already cooler than normal for August, was further fanned Monday by thousands of student hands opening thousands of biology, economics and other college textbooks. Fall classes began at Norfolk State and Old Dominion universities.

``She gave us work on the first day,'' lamented Tynisa Hardin, a Norfolk State junior from Neptune, N.J., talking about her speech professor. ``I have to write a speech on somebody in the class.''

Fall classes at Tidewater Community College started last Thursday. Virginia Wesleyan College and most of Regent University open Sept. 2, although Regent's law school began Aug. 18.

Forget the calendar. For students, summer is over.

Total-enrollment projections weren't available Monday from Norfolk State, although it estimated more than 1,350 freshmen would enroll, up slightly from last year when it had about 8,350 total students. Old Dominion University expects about 18,000 students, up slightly from 17,800 last year, with about 1,560 freshmen.

Virginia Wesleyan College expects more than 250 freshmen among its estimated 1,400 students, near last year's total of 1,460. Two-year Tidewater Community College expects about 18,500 students, most of them part-timers - the equivalent of about 9,850 full-time students - a jump of 14 to 15 percent since last year. A similar increase could be seen at Regent University, where officials anticipate from 1,825 to 2,130 students in its graduate programs, up from 1,675 last fall.

All estimates are from the schools, where officials expect to continue registering students for weeks.

Like at most colleges, Monday's first day of classes at Norfolk State provided not just homework but renewed friendships, class-schedule adjustments, a few missing professors and overly air-conditioned classrooms, a busy bookstore and a shiny new shuttle bus.

``It's fun seeing how people progressed over the summer,'' said Rhonda Rush, also a junior from Neptune, N.J.

She, Hardin and sophomore Shelly Holley of Baltimore, all members of the marching band's flag squad, were going to band practice at mid-afternoon clutching soft drinks from the 7-Eleven across the street from the campus.

``The first day of class I see as easy, because you're coming back and the teachers are coming back, and they've got a lot to do,'' Rush said.

Except, apparently, for Hardin's speech professor.

Holley went to her swimming and psychology classes, but skipped math in confusion when she didn't see the professor she had expected. She later found out that the professor had been changed. ``So, I guess I'll go Wednesday,'' she said.

The newer shuttle for getting around campus got a big thumbs-up from her, too.

But the three friends said they looked forward to coming back for another reason other than buddies and band - a new university president and expected changes and improvements. Marie V. McDemmond took over in July, the first new president at NSU in 22 years.

Darnell Smith, a sophomore from Virginia Beach, noted this, too.

``It felt different, probably because of the new president over there,'' he said, indicating the nearby administration building.

``A new Norfolk State vibe.'' KEYWORDS: BACK TO SCHOOL

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