By Steve Knight/managing editor
TCC enrollment continues to climb as all four campuses had numbers over 10,000 for the spring semester.
As of Friday, TCC spring enrollment is up 8.2 percent districtwide, about 3,000 over last spring’s total enrollment with 39,053 on its four campuses.
These figures do not represent enrollment of all fall semester offerings, which include two eight-week terms and other terms of varying length.
Also, campus totals added together equal more than the district figure because many students enroll on more than one campus.
NW Campus continues its balloon-like growth as it posted the largest increase, 17 percent, pushing its overall enrollment to 10,247 for this semester.
All TCC campuses had increases. South Campus is up 9 percent to 11,101. NE Campus rose 10.1 percent to 14,903, and SE Campus grew 6.9 percent to 12,157.
TCC follows a state and national trend of increasing enrollments at community colleges.
Dr. Cathie Jackson, associate vice chancellor for student development and educational services, said enrollment tends to increase during a troubling economy and students want to retrain for a different career.
Jackson also said the northwest part of the county continues to expand.
“We have more students coming straight from high school,” she said.
Jackson also said tuition increases at state universities actually benefit the two-year schools.
“Students find they can take the same courses as at the university and save money,” she said.
Jackson said community colleges reach more of the general population.
“We teach life skills and give people more access to education,” she said.
