Community college enrollment sees gains
By ASHLEY RHODEBECK
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arhodebeck@kcchronicle.com
ELGIN – Officials at Elgin Community College anticipated a growth in enrollment this fall but were not expecting the 1,883 student increase they got, making the school a leader in a statewide trend.
The Illinois Community College Board recently released its fall 2009 opening enrollment survey results, which showed a 6.4 percent statewide gain in the head count compared to last year.
Full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment rose by 9.5 percent.
Waubonsee Community College, which has campuses in Sugar Grove and Aurora, grew by 1,228 students in its head count, thus increasing its enrollment by 13.2 percent. It gained 576 students last year.
Head counts haven’t been this high in Illinois since the recession in the early 1980s, according to the board. Furthermore, FTE enrollment is at an all-time high since such reporting began in 1965.
The 1,883 student boost at ECC brought its enrollment to 11,704 – the highest in school history.
Since the official count, enrollment has risen to 12,071.
ECC President David Sam was pleased by the growth since, he said, it shows “several people believe they can achieve their educational objectives at ECC.”
While the economy likely contributed to the enrollment jump, Sam noted news stories about the college’s 60th anniversary and 2009 spring referendum probably helped, too.
The recording-breaking enrollment justifies the $178 million referendum, he said. It will add about 322,000 square feet to campus, including a health career center, a library and a public safety training facility.
Also, enrollment in Internet-based courses rose by about 90 percent, Sam said, describing it as unusual.
ECC received approval last year to let students complete their associate degree completely online.
The college’s biggest age group remains 17- to 22-year-olds. However, Sam said, each older age group increased this fall – 26 to 30 by 26 percent, 31 to 40 by 24 percent, 41 to 50 by 18 percent and 51 and older by 31 percent.
“These are heavy-duty numbers,” he said, naming job loss, a desire to upgrade skills and hopes to finish a degree as reasons behind the growth.
Third-semester nursing student Gabrielle Martinez of Hanover Park said the bigger student body is hard to miss, whether it’s in class, the cafeteria or outside.
“Let me tell you, every one of those students is very prevalent here,” she said. “Our parking lot is incredibly full. If you get there after 8:30 a.m., 9 a.m., you have a slim chance of getting a parking spot.”
ECC added classes and faculty to meet the larger-than-usual demand.
Though courses in health were unable to expand due to physical limitations, Sam said, general education classes grew across the board.
Tuition remained at $91 a credit hour for the third consecutive year.
“Our board of trustees has worked very hard to ensure we have the resources to do that,” Sam said.
The cost is a selling point to students such as Martinez, who said she feels she’s getting the same quality education she would get at an university but for a lower price.
Enrollment for next semester begins next week. Sam advises people to sign up as soon as possible. As Martinez can attest to, obtaining a spot in a class is more difficult than it was last year.
“Everybody’s learning how important education is,” she said.
Elgin Community College headcounts
• Fall 2005 — 10,449
• Fall 2006 — 10,072
• Fall 2007 — 9,613
• Fall 2008 — 9,821
• Fall 2009 — 11,704
Waubonsee Community College headcounts
• Fall 2005 — 8,834
• Fall 2006 — 8,843
• Fall 2007 — 8,731
• Fall 2008 — 9,307
• Fall 2009 — 10,535
Source: Illinois Community College Board
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