Durham, N.C. — The incoming freshman class at North Carolina Central University is almost two-thirds larger than a year ago, forcing some upperclassmen to be housed in a nearby hotel, officials said Monday.

N.C. Central has admitted 3,527 students in its freshman class, up from 2,188 in the fall of 2008. Michael Bailey, interim senior associate director of admissions, cited the economy and the impact of a new marketing campaign for the jump.

To accommodate the influx, the university has reserved about half of the Millennium Hotel in Durham to house 300 juniors, seniors, graduate, and law students.

“We’ve established a physically separated wing for the students in the interests of their security,” Patrick Tighe, director of sales and marketing for the hotel, said in a statement.

Jennifer Wilder, director of residential life, said incoming freshmen and rising sophomores would remain on campus to ensure that “they have a good foundation before moving off campus.”

“Juniors and seniors are more mature and better equipped to live a more independent lifestyle like they will have at the hotel,” Wilder said in a statement.

Students staying in the hotel will receive the same services that on-campus students receive, such as Internet connections, lounge spaces and weekly bathroom cleaning, officials said. N.C. Central will assign a resident director and eight resident assistants to the hotel.

Shuttle service will be provided for residents to commute to campus from 7 a.m. to midnight and will run every 15 to 30 minutes, with two shuttles running during peak times.