CLC leads Minnesota in spring enrollment increase
Spring enrollment at Central Lakes College jumped by 21.1 percent from last spring, the largest percentage increase among all 32 state universities and community and technical colleges in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, MnSCU reported Wednesday.
Overall, the MnSCU system experienced a record enrollment increase of 14,338 students, or nearly a 8 percent gain over a year ago, MnSCU officials reported.
Central Lakes College students Laura Desotell (left) and Dan Powers worked Wednesday in the CLC computer commons on the Brainerd campus. Spring enrollment at the college is up more than 21 percent over last spring. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
CLC experienced a 21.1 percent increase in its head count, or the number of students enrolled in courses. There are 4,616 students enrolled at CLC this spring, compared to 3,812 students last spring. CLC's full year equivalent numbers, or the number of students divided by a full load of 30 credits for the year, is 3,350, a 10.9 percent increase from last spring.
Suresh Tiwari, vice president of academic affairs and student services, said there are several factors that contributed to the dramatic enrollment increase. He said enrollment in the College in the Schools program in 23 area high schools has increased. When the program started a few years ago there were about 200 students earning college credit in CLC courses taught by their high school instructors who have credentials through CLC. Tiwari said the program has grown to about 1,500 students this spring.
Tiwari said CLC has more than 200 students enrolled through the dislocated worker program, which has increased. He said the economy is driving more people to return to college.
"The economy has a lot to do with it," Tiwari said of the college's enrollment growth. "When people can't find jobs this is the time they try to upgrade their knowledge base and skills."
Tiwari said CLC's outreach in the community also has contributed to the growth. Last fall the college developed a partnership with the Mille Lacs Tribal College, starting initially with four classes offered at the tribal college with an average class enrollment of about 12-13 students. Tiwari said the number of CLC classes and student enrollment in those courses have nearly doubled by this spring.
"We are very pleased with this," Tiwari said of enrollment. "We still have a long way to go because I don't think we've reached out to all the constituents yet but we're getting better at it. We're very pleased at where we're at now."
Tiwari said the college added several courses this spring to keep up with demand. He said an evening welding section was added, as were additional sections of criminal justice, computer technology and liberal arts courses. Last fall the nursing program was expanded to the Staples campus and the college developed a medical assistant program.
"We didn't know how we stood to others (in the MnSCU system) but our numbers were going through the roof," Tiwari said of early enrollment numbers this spring. "Everybody's numbers increased considerably."
"This large enrollment increase clearly shows Minnesotans are turning to their state colleges and universities when times are tough," said MnSCU Chancellor James H. McCormick in a news release. "We are glad to help them pursue their goals. Equally important, we will have more graduates ready in the next few years to help Minnesota's employers rebuild the state's economy."
Overall, enrollment at MnSCU's 25 two-year colleges increased this spring by 10.1 percent; the number of students at the seven state universities went up by 3 percent.
The numbers released Wednesday represent the official enrollment count of students taking credit-based courses on the 30th day of the spring semester.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.