Spring Enrollment Surpasses 41,000 Credit Students

Austin Community College District enrollment continues to rise, breaking another record this spring. Final data show a 12 percent increase in credit students. Spring 2010 enrollment stands at 41,050 students, compared with 36,601 students in spring 2009.  

“More people are recognizing the tremendous value of community college,” says Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, ACC president and CEO. “ACC provides affordable academic transfer courses that are important to increasing higher education participation rates in our community, and the college also is expanding workforce programs that train and re-train residents for high-demand careers.”

ACC saw a 20 percent rise in the number of African-American students this spring (for a total of 3,728 African-American students). There was more than 14 percent growth among Hispanic students (with a total of 10,214 Hispanic students). These increases contribute to a statewide goal of reversing the decline in college participation rates. 

Growth is not limited to the college’s seven comprehensive campuses. ACC’s centers offer classes in communities that are in the college’s eight-county service area but not part of ACC’s taxing district. Center enrollment surged almost 36 percent this spring, compared with spring 2009 figures.

“This increase indicates a growing awareness of the affordable, quality education ACC offers,” says Dr. Luanne Preston, executive director of school relations and supervisor of the centers. “We are happy to provide access to higher education, not only within the district, but also across the region.”

This is the fourth consecutive semester with record-setting enrollment college-wide. In order to meet demand, ACC is hiring more full-time faculty and support staff as well as adding new classes. The college will continue its expansion this fall with the opening of phase I of the new Round Rock Campus, which will have an initial capacity of approximately 5,000 students. It will eventually serve more than 11,000 students.

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