News

The 15th day is considered a benchmark for enrollment data to be reported.

Dr. Carl Bridges, vice president of Student and Academic Affairs and Provost, said the college typically will see an increase of 300 to 400 additional students by the end of the semester due largely in part to the dual-enrollment students from local school districts.

With enrollment currently at 3,474, Bridges stated the total could reach close to 3,800 by the end of the semester, still short of the 4,000 student goal that had been set.

While the overall enrollment is down, there has been very little change in new student enrollment. In the autumn semester of 2013, there were 1,169 new students enrolled. That number is 1,141 for the autumn semester of 2014.

”We are pleased by the number of new students,” said Bridges. He contributed the consistent enrollment to the work completed over the summer by the admissions office with a phone-a-thon and other activities to reach out to potential students.

The main decline comes with the returning students, something Bridges said is partially by”We impose high expectations and standards for students,” said Bridges. Students who have not meet those standards do not often return to the college.

Bridges said the college is working to implement a way to alert students who may be in academic trouble in time for them to seek help for the courses.

“We are working with the students to succeed and have the resources available for them,” said Bridges.

Bridges concluding by saying that the college is working to partner with other two-year and four-year institutions to help with enrollment and continuing students.

“I firmly believe we are on the right track,” said Bridges.