Enrollment flat at Washtenaw Community College this fall
Enrollment at Washtenaw Community College this fall is nearly flat compared to the previous year, college officials said today.
But that’s not bad news. It means the college is holding onto explosive growth numbers from 2009.
This fall, 14,189 credit-taking students are on campus, officials told the board. That’s down 13 students from the previous year. However, two years ago, about 12,400 students were enrolled.
The 14,000 students on campus this fall represents a 16 percent increase from numbers five years ago.
The growth isn’t a surprise to student Marissa Land, who has been on campus on and off for several years.
“You can see it everywhere you go here,” she said this afternoon while taking a break from studying. “Everything is crowded, especially the parking lots.”
College officials said 84 percent of those students plan to get a degree or certification from WCC. Sixty-two percent of the student body plans to transfer somewhere to continue their education. Thirty-two percent, the largest group, is in the business and computer tech field. Second is health and applied technology, where 28 percent of the student body is taking classes.
The average student is taking 9.1 credit hours. Fifty-three percent of the student body is female.
Thirty-seven percent of the student body, or just over 5,200, is full-time students, taking 12 or more credit hours.
The new student class numbers 3,509, down 8 percent from last fall. Fifty-six percent of those come from Washtenaw County; 30 percent are minorities. The average age of a new student is 28; however, 56 percent of the new student class is below the age of 25.
David Jesse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.
Comments
Janet Hawkins
Wed, Oct 27, 2010 : 9:55 a.m.
Washtenaw Community College offers 115 certificate and degree programs, only two have waiting lists. WCCs nursing program has about a 2.5 year waitlist, while the radiography program can have a 2-4 year wait for admission. That is because the number of people who apply far exceed the enrollment the college can accommodate at clinical sites and on campus. However, students do not have to wait to take their prerequisite and general studies requirements before admission to these programs, and they are encouraged to do so. There are many Washtenaw County residents 65 and older who take WCC classes through the colleges Emeritus program. Most of them enroll in credit-free classes that are held at one of many senior locations throughout the county. Enrollment in credit classes is on a space available basis. WCC is grateful for the support it receives from the community. And thanks to that support, 23,206 students enrolled in at least one credit course last year, 8,223 of them were new students to the college. WCC also awarded 2,194 certificates and degrees in 2009-2010.
M.
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 10:24 p.m.
snapshot - What do you mean a four year wait? I don't understand how that is really possible with the way it is set up to get degrees/certificates there. Maybe you can explain? You don't have to apply to a program right when you begin at the school - you can start taking required courses, but I'm not sure which programs supposedly have a wait. I'm going to WCC and haven't heard of waiting lists for programs before.
snapshot
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 : 9:37 p.m.
I'm not sure what "holding on to explosive growth numbers from 2009" means. I understand there is up to a FOUR year wait for some programs. That isn't acceptable to me for a state funded community college. To remain on the "wait" list, a person must be an enrolled student. That means FOUR years of being a community college student just to wait for a chance to enroll in the program desired. Not a good thing. I have one question.....why would residents tolerate a four year wait for their kids to get into a state funded college that gets a good chunk of property taxes? I have another question.......How many "free senior enrollments" are there at this college?