More and more students are enrolling at local community colleges. Summer school enrollment at West Hills Community College District jumped about 9 percent from summer 2007 to summer 2008, and College of the Sequoias reported a 14.5 percent increase over last summer.

Frances Squire, marketing director for West Hills, said that 3,526 students enrolled in summer school, versus 3,224 last summer. The college's officials are projecting a similar increase in fall enrollment. In fall 2007, about 6,500 students were enrolled, and this year, 7,500 students are expected to enroll, Squire said. As of Tuesday, 3,730 students were enrolled for the fall semester, but a large percentage of West Hills students wait until the last moment to enroll, Squire said.

The college's officials expect that new programs, including the Lemoore campus's new nursing program and engineering scholars program, will be factors in driving up enrollment. And the fact that several classes are offered online is increasingly popular, especially with the high cost of gas, Squire said.

"When economic times get tough, people turn to community colleges," Squire said, citing that people recognize that they need inexpensive training to get certain jobs.

West Hills will host its Xtreme Registration on Friday, Aug. 8, from 6 p.m. to midnight. At the event, students will be able to enroll, take placement tests and participate in a variety of academic and fun activities.

But Squire said West Hills does not encourage people to wait, because classes begin on Aug. 11, and students won't have a full selection on the Friday before classes begin.

"If you snooze you lose," Squire said.

Bill Scroggins, president of the College of the Sequoias, said 4,290 students enrolled in summer school, versus 3,747 students last summer. For the fall, COS has 8,543 students enrolled -- up 1,278 or a 17.6 percent increase over this date last year. At that rate, COS will have over 13,000 students this fall.

Don Mast, COS dean of student services, attributed COS' increased enrollment largely to the efforts of the outreach staff. Mast said they visited 10 local high schools in Tulare and Kings counties last year, including Hanford High School and Hanford West High School, where they administered placement tests and helped students register. This year, COS plans to increase the number of high schools visited.

Also, COS recently began the First Year Experience program, which ties first year COS students together in small groups where they can receive peer support. Mast said that program implementation boosts both enrollment and student retention.

Mast agreed with Squire that the economy could play a role in the increased enrollment at local community colleges.

"Community college sometimes is the best bargain," Mast said.

Mast added that as the student population grows, COS will receive additional revenue, which will allow the college to adjust and expand programs according to the needs of the state and the nation. Mast said that starting the truck driving program and doubling the size of the nursing program were two examples of how increased revenue had recently benefited the college and met the needs of the community.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2424.

(July 17, 2008)