By Shelly Williams/managing editor
TCC is bursting at the seams everywhere, Trinity River Campus registrar Adam Baugh said of the increase in the enrollment status of all five schools this fall.
As of Aug. 23, the district saw an increase of 12.37 percent over last fall’s total student count, with a 25 percent increase in distant learning classes. The district is carrying a total of 45,758 students this term.
“There is no doubt in my mind that distance learning and ITV courses are driving the large increases we are experiencing,” Interim Chancellor Erma Hadley said. “For example, when the Trinity River Campus added additional DL courses to its offerings just a few days before classes started, they filled almost immediately.”
When the other campuses first started, each reached around 4,000 students. TR Campus cut it close with 3,899 students enrolled this semester, Baugh said.
“I think for our first year, I can’t imagine how it could’ve gone more smoothly,” he said.
South Campus surpassed its 2008 fall semester count by 1,620 students for a total of 12,190. NE Campus increased by 2,731 students, filling a sum of 17,065 classroom seats.
However, NW Campus had the highest amount of additional students, 2,878 over last fall’s 9,106, for a total of 12,019. SE Campus gained 1,666 students this term, making the campus host to 13,261 students.
With the campuses’ increase in growth, some students have experienced difficulty with parking facilities, crowded classes and long lines in the school stores.
“Parking is quite hellish,” NE student Justin Conlon said.
“My third day, I circled for 20 minutes looking for a place. Others had to park in the grass,” he said. “The on-campus bookstore is the equivalent to shopping on Black Friday. The lines are monstrously long, and the books I need are always out of stock.”
The districtwide count for students applying for financial aid has risen 30 percent due to the high enrollment status, NE financial aid director Bill McMullen said.
“Because of the economy, a lot of families’ income has been drastically impacted,” he said. “There are also a lot of people retraining who already have previous degrees, so those folks are coming back to college and applying for financial aid as well.”
Baugh said he was excited that enrollment was still increasing while continuing to keep tuition low for students.
“I just think it’s a great place to be,” Baugh said.
“It’s just neat to see more and more just keep coming and coming.”
