Patrick Henry Community College officials reflect on new enrollment trend
September 25, 2018
The college’s academic enrollment for this fall reflect an 8% gain over last year’s count. This means that 2,300 students are taking more than 25,000 credit hours. Including workforce enrollment, college officials say that PHCC is on pace to eclipse more than 5,000 total students served for 2018-19. Read more in full story....
PHCC officials reflect on new enrollment trend
MARTINSVILLE,
VA – On Monday, officials at Patrick Henry Community College announced
good news at their College Board Meeting. The college’s enrollment numbers are
looking good – very good.
At the beginning of the calendar year, college officials
recall being concerned about enrollment numbers. When setting their forecasted
budget, they wagered low.
Defying the national statistics and the continued population
decline of the college’s service region, PHCC’s actual enrollment numbers this
year bucked the trend. The college’s academic enrollment for this fall reflect
an 8% gain over last year’s count. This means that 2,300 students are taking
more than 25,000 credit hours. Including workforce enrollment, college
officials say that PHCC is on pace to eclipse more than 5,000 total students
served for 2018-19.
“This is the first time in seven years that fall-to-fall
enrollment has trended upward,” says Hodges. “It is a pleasant and exciting
surprise.”
The upward trend for the college began this summer with the enrollment
rocketing past the previous year’s summer enrollment by 24%. Summer 2018’s enrollment
gains were the highest the college has seen since 2013. Among the community
colleges in Virginia, PHCC had the highest one-year summer enrollment increase
in the state. The next closest institution had an increase of just over 10%.
What caused PHCC’s numbers to do a 180-degree turn and start heading uphill?
College officials say that the academic
enrollment derived from the new Harvest SEED program is a major factor in the
total increase seen for both the summer and fall semesters.
PHCC’s workforce division has also experienced growth.
Workforce programs include both customized and short-term training options for
local companies to deliver industry-recognized credentials. These programs
prepare graduates for high demand jobs like commercial truck driving, medical
assisting, and phlebotomy.
“We hope this trend, along with recent economic development
announcements, forecasts the beginning of a new economic boom,” says Hodges. “People
are realizing that many of the job openings in our community that lead to family-sustaining,
fulfilling careers require either one of our academic degrees or one of our
workforce credentials. Perhaps a rising trend in the region’s economic recovery
and this upward trend in PHCC’s enrollment suggests the region is on the path
to a very bright future.”