When the 2009 Spring quarter began earlier this week at Ogeechee Technical College, more students than ever before were on campus for a Spring quarter at OTC.
Dr. Charlene Lamar, vice president for Student Affairs at Ogeechee Tech, said 1,983 students signed up for classes that began April 6, breaking the previous enrollment record of 1,964 in the 2004 Spring quarter. The influx of students also is an 18 percent increase over 2008 Spring quarter enrollment.
The increase of students is the continuation of a trend that began with Winter quarter, according to Dr. Dawn Cartee, president of Ogeechee Tech.
“After several years of declining enrollment, we are now seeing an increase in the number of students attending Ogeechee Tech,” Cartee said.
The decline in enrollment began in 2005 and continued until 2007 when it stabilized. The enrollment was constant for Spring quarter from 2007 to 2008, and now 2009 has seen the number of students grow dramatically.
“I do not think this enrollment increase can be attributed to one cause,” Cartee said. “Our recruitment and retention efforts have been managed as a team. Our faculty and staff have all played an integral role in achieving the level of enrollment we are now seeing.”
Cartee also noted new programs, such as Fire Science and the Regional Law Enforcement Academy, as well as expanded programs like the new evening Cosmetology program, helped contribute to the increase in enrollment.
While unemployment levels and layoffs can often cause a spike in post-secondary education enrollment, Cartee said there has not been a large number of new students enrolling at Ogeechee Tech from any one source, such as from a single plant’s layoffs.
“We did have a group of 20 who enrolled after losing their jobs at a local plant, but that was the only significant number from one source,” Cartee said. “With affordable tuition, 98 percent job placement rates, and flexible schedules, our college is a very attractive choice to many people, and I believe that our enrollment increases are proving that,” Cartee said.
Ogeechee Tech typically has even stronger enrollment during its Fall and Winter quarters.
“With the budget challenges that are facing the State of Georgia currently, it is more important than ever that our enrollment remain strong,” Cartee said.
Dr. Charlene Lamar, vice president for Student Affairs at Ogeechee Tech, said 1,983 students signed up for classes that began April 6, breaking the previous enrollment record of 1,964 in the 2004 Spring quarter. The influx of students also is an 18 percent increase over 2008 Spring quarter enrollment.
The increase of students is the continuation of a trend that began with Winter quarter, according to Dr. Dawn Cartee, president of Ogeechee Tech.
“After several years of declining enrollment, we are now seeing an increase in the number of students attending Ogeechee Tech,” Cartee said.
The decline in enrollment began in 2005 and continued until 2007 when it stabilized. The enrollment was constant for Spring quarter from 2007 to 2008, and now 2009 has seen the number of students grow dramatically.
“I do not think this enrollment increase can be attributed to one cause,” Cartee said. “Our recruitment and retention efforts have been managed as a team. Our faculty and staff have all played an integral role in achieving the level of enrollment we are now seeing.”
Cartee also noted new programs, such as Fire Science and the Regional Law Enforcement Academy, as well as expanded programs like the new evening Cosmetology program, helped contribute to the increase in enrollment.
While unemployment levels and layoffs can often cause a spike in post-secondary education enrollment, Cartee said there has not been a large number of new students enrolling at Ogeechee Tech from any one source, such as from a single plant’s layoffs.
“We did have a group of 20 who enrolled after losing their jobs at a local plant, but that was the only significant number from one source,” Cartee said. “With affordable tuition, 98 percent job placement rates, and flexible schedules, our college is a very attractive choice to many people, and I believe that our enrollment increases are proving that,” Cartee said.
Ogeechee Tech typically has even stronger enrollment during its Fall and Winter quarters.
“With the budget challenges that are facing the State of Georgia currently, it is more important than ever that our enrollment remain strong,” Cartee said.