Washtenaw Community College enrollment drops to 2008 levels
Enrollment at Washtenaw Community College is down 9.4 percent from last fall, according to preliminary numbers compiled by the college.
Linda Blakey, associate vice president for student services, said the decrease is in line with what other community colleges throughout the state are experiencing.
Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com
As of the first day of classes on Friday, 12,330 students were enrolled in the college, compared to 13,612 during the start of 2010 and 13,418 in the fall of 2009.
Enrollment remains open for certain classes and official numbers wont be available until October, Blakey said.
Mike Hansen, president of the Michigan Community College Association, said 2010 and 2009 were record-setting years for enrollment in community colleges.
“It looks like it’s tracking down, but remember it’s from record levels,” Hansen said.
This year’s enrollment is comparable to 2008, when enrollment on the first day of classes was 12,409.
Hansen says declining enrollment could be the result of several factors, including a decrease in recent high school graduates and a rebounding economy.
“In some parts of the state, the economy has picked back up and people are starting to go back to work,” Hansen said.
Cost may also be a factor.
Hansen and Blakey both said the expiration of the No Worker Left Behind program, a state measure that subsidized up to two years of higher education for workers, also had an impact.
“We had waves of people” because of the program, Blakey said. “Now, they’re not coming.”
WCC students also saw a 6.2 percent hike—or $5 per credit hour increase—in tuition this year.
“Even a modest increase in $5 a credit hour can make the difference,” Hansen said.
Blakey said that even though there are nearly 1,300 fewer students this year, “all of our health programs continue to be wait-listed.”
Additionally, the decrease “is not enough to allay any parking problems,” Blakey said.
The college is expected to finish a 488-space parking garage by the winter semester. Until then, WCC does not have enough parking spaces to meet student demand.
As a result, college officials are encouraging students to park at Eastern Michigan University’s Rynearson lot on Hewitt Road and take a shuttle to class.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602.
Comments
snapshot
Fri, Sep 2, 2011 : 2:05 a.m.
WCC has a THREE YEAR waiting list for some degree programs. Then there's a requirement that you have to be a continous registered student to hold your place in the 3 year line. Any wonder kids are dropping out?
Goofus
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 2:36 a.m.
I think they finally just got sick of the abysmal parking situation at WCC.
Wolf's Bane
Wed, Aug 31, 2011 : 12:37 p.m.
No, this is the Snyder way of emptying out the state.
Judy
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 4:14 p.m.
If someone really wants to go to college there are ways besides "hard working people's tax dollars!!! Example: My daughter paid for her first year (no tax dollars) she proved she wanted an education by getting good grades (3.8) so she got a scholarship her second year. I am glad that there is Federal mandate on financial aid so all the "party animals" do not receive my hard earned dollars.
jrigglem
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 2:59 p.m.
I agree with the getting screwed over by financial aid. Getting aid is like jumping through hoops. I never had this problem at EMU. (I was looking to go back to get an associates since a bachelors degree in business isn't getting me a job) Between only getting only half the information I needed from the staff, waiting in line for over an hour to get that information, and then being treated like an idiot about student loans. I preferred to pass and wait out the job market. I had to ask the girl 3 times if I my financial aid was finalized before she finally told me that I had to have in person loan counseling.
djacks24
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 3:36 p.m.
I didn't think it was possible to still get FA after already having a bachelors degree, much less going back for an associates degree after already completing a bachelors degree. That would more self interest as opposed to need based. I call that common sense that you were turned down for that and not "getting screwed" as you put it.
Wolf's Bane
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 2:05 p.m.
Nice work Gov. Snyder, you're goal of creating a sub class of the poor is really working.
xmo
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 1:14 p.m.
So is it President George Bush or Governor Rick Snyder who caused this? Maybe both? Everybody knows they are out to get the poor and down trodden! But there is hope, President elect Obama will soon take over!
Terrin Bell
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 2:08 p.m.
Another Lemming who is stuck in viewing politics as a sporting event.
grimmk
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 1:03 p.m.
Maybe it's because you screw people over on financial aid, hmmm, WCC? No help to those transfer students? First you promise you are covered and then turn around and say no. Nice one. Thanks for screwing over my friend's goal of going to nursing school.
cinnabar7071
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 4:08 p.m.
grimmk your friend should look in the mirror if he wants to go to college. If your friend cant figure out how to come up with the money to go to WCC, I'm thinking he'll have a even bigger problem figuring out out to do with his education once hes gets it. I mean come on WCC isn't that expensive. Entitlement attitude is killing this country
Judy
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 4:05 p.m.
My guess is you are not telling the "whole story". Something must of happened in between WCC saying "yes" then saying "no". I have my own guesses t what happened to your friend. djacks24: is right if one door closes and your friend really wants to go to nursing school, she should look for "another door".
grimmk
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 3:57 p.m.
Not all of us have money and not all of us want to be further in debt to America. The point was that WCC promised to pay for her classes and then turned around and said, no we lied, no help for you!
djacks24
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 2:27 p.m.
Your friend can pay for themselves to go to college like I did or take out loans. Just because they can't get a handout then they "can't" go? This is America. Your friend can find another way to go besides getting a free ride from the tax payers if they truly want to.
sailor67
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 12:48 p.m.
9.4% fewer students?? I'm guessing the enrollment numbers are actually the same, but 4.7% are out of class waiting for the bookstore to order their books and the other 4.7% are driving around trying to find a parking place.
Mr. Ed
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 12:12 p.m.
Numbers are down because of the new Federal mandate on financial aid. All the fraud students can no longer register and receive free Federal dollars.
Dusky
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 12:06 p.m.
Now that the trees have been cut and the woods destroyed, along with the killing of the trilliums and other wild flowers, now that the wellness paths are gone, now that the wildlife have been displaced or killed, now that that beautiful part of the campus is gone, now that all the taxpayers money has been spent, enrollment is down? Kudos WCC, you have done it again, one blunder after another. Shame on you. Too much money to spend and such eagerness to do so....you come in #1 in that department. Time to get someone with 'real done to earth' ideas on the "Board ", faculty and taxpayers talk to deaf ears when they address the present Board.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 2:28 p.m.
Terrin: 1) The parking problems existed at WCC long before the enrollment jumps (and they were huge jumps) of 2009 and 2010. The enrollment increases made the problem even more acute, but the problem had been around for a long time. 2) Building the kind of structure you suggest costs MONEY--lots of it. Apple has that money. Moreover, it does not have anti-government teapartiers looking at every government expenditure and seeing waste in them. The parking garage is not a perfect solution, to be certain, but last time I checked, we live in a less-than-perfect world. Good Night and Good Luck
Terrin Bell
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 2:06 p.m.
Janet: Dusky's reaction is understandable because the parking situation at WCC, including the structure plans, are poorly conceived. The parking structure was sold on the premise that enrollment was expected to continue to rise, when that likely wasn't going to be the case. Historically college enrollment rises temporarily during a recession. The structure idea was put together quickly. WCC has a beautiful campus, many people, including myself went there for that reason. You like to feel good about the environment you are going to spend a lot of time in. Further, WCC likes to advertise how its newer building are LEED certified (environmentally friendly). Yet, it didn't approach parking in a similar manner. It should have taken the approach Apple is taking at its California campus: namely moving parking underground, and having vegetation on top. Apple actually is adding hundred s of trees, while increasing parking. WCC could have placed a structure across the street at the Rec Center, with a bridge crossing over. It also could have added a structure where some of the current parking exists thereby greatly increasing parking while preserving land.
Janet Hawkins
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 1:29 p.m.
Dusky, Perhaps you haven't had a chance to really examine the wooded area thoroughly since construction for the new structure began. Less than a fourth of the trees in the pine stand that you reference have been removed, the vast majority remain intact. There is still a great deal of habitat for wild life and trillium. And I'm sure you appreciate that 52 acres of WCC wetlands and woodlands to the west of central campus remain untouched with no plans to develop them in the near future (<a href="http://www.wccnet.edu/news-events/articles/view/206/)" rel='nofollow'>www.wccnet.edu/news-events/articles/view/206/)</a>. The parking that this new structure will provide is really needed. For many years, the College encouraged alternative methods of transportation to and from campus, among them carpooling, bicycling, taking the bus, and shuttling in from an off-campus lot. But parking on campus continues to challenge students, staff, and guests who attend over 1,200 public events on campus at the Morris Lawrence building each year. The Board and college administration considered its impact on the environment, its cost, and its long-term benefit to the community before making the decision to build the parking structure. It is a decision that will serve students, guests, and staff well into the future.
MJSteklac
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 11:09 a.m.
That's surprising, because all the parking lots were as full as ever on the first day of classes and the two classes where I am a Computer Classroom Lab Aide had every seat full.
djacks24
Tue, Aug 30, 2011 : 2:32 p.m.
Parking has always been an issue there the first few weeks. Even for years prior to 2008 and up. Just give it a few weeks and spots will open up as people decide to not show up to class.