Community Colleges Report Increased Enrollment

Concord, N.H. - Community College System of New Hampshire
26 College Drive
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-2722, (603) 271-2725 Fax
www.ccsnh.edu

System enrollment up nearly 70% over decade

In a little over a year after the NH Legislature approved a self-governing measure, enrollment at New Hampshire’s community colleges continues to increase significantly.

In 2007, the Legislature approved, and Gov. Lynch signed, a measure to allow the system to govern itself through a board of trustees. Since then, the college system has embarked on an ambitious schedule of name changes, new construction, curriculum additions, and enhanced recruiting efforts.

For the Fall semester of 2008, enrollment at the seven community colleges increased nearly 6% over the previous fall, and 70% over the past decade.

Highlights include:

• White Mountains Community College in Berlin - enrollment has increased 12% over last year – record figures for the college.
• Manchester Community College – enrollment increased more than 13% over last year.
• Great Bay Community College in Stratham – applications increased 24%, with an enrollment increase of nearly 8%.
• River Valley Community College in Claremont – enrollment has increased nearly 6%.
• The System’s other colleges – NHTI in Concord, Lakes Region in Laconia, and Nashua Community College – also reported increases in enrollment over last year.

In addition, many college programs are currently filled to capacity – a sign that the System is meeting its mission of training workers for high-demand fields.

For example, White Mountains Community College recently created programs in welding and massage therapy – both of which are currently filled to capacity. At Lakes Region Community College, officials noted full classes in Allied Heath programs. All seven colleges’ nursing programs are full. NHTI in Concord is currently constructing a new Nursing Education Center, slated to open in the fall of 2009.

At Manchester Community College, officials have noted record enrollment in their growing menu of online courses.

Additionally, more colleges are seeing students take advantage of the ease of enrolling via the web. Great Bay Community College, since offering the online application option in June, has received approximately 90% of its applications through this feature.

“Our enrollment is the highest it has ever been,” said Bruce Baker, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services at Great Bay.

At Lakes Region Community College, the state’s only associate degree programs in fire protection and fire science continue to see strong enrollment, and college officials anticipate increasing interest in a new energy services and technology program and a media arts and technology program, both recently developed at the college.

In addition, the colleges have reported several other trends:

• An increase in students applying for Liberal Arts transfer programs. At Great Bay Community College, for example, liberal-arts applications have increased 50%.
• New students tend to be younger each year, increasing the traditional student population.
• Colleges continue to see an increase in interest from displaced workers.
• Prospective students are learning about the colleges from a variety of marketing avenues, such as direct mail, e-mail, radio, television and print advertising. As a result, attendance at admissions events has increased.
• Community college enrollment is still overwhelmingly comprised of NH residents, with 95% of the students from in-state.

“I am so pleased that more New Hampshire students are finding the New Hampshire community colleges are able to help them meet their academic and life goals,” said Dr. Richard Gustafson, System chancellor. “It’s been a very busy and exciting year for all of us, and we look forward to more advancements in the years to come.”

This fall, over 13,000 students are enrolled at the community colleges. Since many are part-time students, the colleges show a full-time equivalent enrollment of over 9,500. Additionally, over 4,000 high school students annually are enrolled in community college courses through the Running Start program.