Community college enrollment climbs again

AUGUSTA — As has been the trend in recent years, Maine’s
community colleges continue to experience double digit enrollment.
Officials point to the tough economy as the biggest reason.

For the spring semester, enrollment is up 15.4 percent compared
with the same time last year, the system announced Tuesday. That’s an
increase of nearly 2,000 students for a total spring enrollment of
14,936.

All seven community colleges are reporting enrollment growth, with
the largest gains at York County Community College (up 44 percent)
and Southern Maine Community College and Northern Maine Community
College (both up 15 percent), college system spokeswoman Helen
Pelletier said.

At the Central Maine Community College in Auburn, spring
enrollment is also up nearly 15 percent over last spring, said Roger
G. Philippon, Dean
of Planning and Public Affairs.

The
Auburn college has experienced
an increase in students every year since at least 1998. Growth in
total credit hour enrollment has been even more dramatic due to more
students taking more courses, Philippon said.

“The state of the economy is a factor,” Philippon said. “A
lot of people are unemployed or underemployed. The community college
presents a good opportunity for them to increase their job
potential.”

Another reason is the bargain priced tuition of $3,260 a semester
for a full-time Maine student. The affordable price is attracting
more recent high school graduates.

CMCC’s more popular programs include liberal arts, which many
students transfer to a four-year college. Others are nursing, “which
is always at capacity,” Philippon said, plus automotive technology,
machine tool, computer technology and business.

In spite of severe budget constraints, the community college
system remains committed to providing as many students as possible
with the education they need, MCCS President John Fitzsimmons said in
a statement Tuesday.

“As neighbors, friends and family members struggle through
these very tough times, the work of our colleges has never been more
important,” he said. Less tax dollars to the state means $1.7
million cuts to the system this year and next. Next year some
programs may have to go. Tuition hikes have not yet been decided by
the trustees, “but the board feels it’s important to keep tuition
affordable,” Pelletier said.

Share this: