Jon Wilcox
The Broadside
Central Oregon Community College is seeing a record number of students enrolled during the 2010 summer term. After a much higher enrollment rate during the 2009 to 2010 academic year, classes were increased this term in order to meet student’s needs due to higher enrollment.
“The demand of the last several terms,” said Alicia Moore, Dean of Student and Enrollment Services, “has moved a lot of students from the traditional academic year to the summer term.”
With more students attending COCC during the past year, waiting lists for classes have grown. Many students who were unable to get into the classes they needed are enrolling during the summer term. Student enrollment in the 2010 summer term has increased 33.7 percent from the 2009 summer term.
“My certification is only one year long,” said Scott Woods, a Master Automotive Technician Major, “and I am trying to get through it as soon as possible.”
With the economic crisis of the last few years, and a low unemployment rate, many people have chosen to go back to school. According to COCC’s Summary of Enrollment by Full Time Equivalency Report, from 2005 to 2008 the average number of credited students enrolled at COCC was 1879.5. In 2009, that number jumped to 3153 students attending COCC. This term there is currently 2929 student enrolled. The faculty at COCC has had to try and keep up with this growing demand.
Remodeling efforts like in Mazama Gym where five classrooms will be added will help alleviate the increase in enrollment. New developments planned for COCC over the next couple of years, could help to keep up with these increases.
“There has been an excellent push by faculty to add classes in nearly all departments,” said Moore, “which gives us the capacity to grow.”
You may contact Jon Wilcox at [email protected]