Enrollment moves up at CBC

Columbia Basin College has more students taking more classes than earlier reports indicated.

More than 7,200 students are enrolled at the college’s Pasco and Richland campuses, according to the latest data provided by college officials. That’s up from the more than 6,600 students enrolled on the first day of classes in September.

But a trend that showed up earlier in the term is still prevalent — students are taking heavier class loads, driving up the college’s full-time equivalency figure.

“This is why ... our first day enrollment doesn’t really mean much,” CBC President Rich Cummins said in an email. “... We will wind up exactly as I predicted: up in both headcount and (full-time equivalency).”

The college has seen declines in some of its programs, specifically those in work force fields such as automotive technology to welding. Demand for those courses tends to drop when the economy is in good shape, college officials have said.

Running Start, which allows high school juniors and seniors to attend classes on college and university campuses and earn college credit, also has fewer students this year, a departure from its recent role as one of the fastest growing programs at the college. The decline could be the result of Washington State University Tri-Cities launching its own Running Start program, taking on 100 students.

The recent increase in students and full-time equivalency has a lot to do with programs that start later in the fall, such as apprentice programs and basic skills courses, college officials said.

Cummins has said he expects the college to surpass its enrollment of roughly 7,400 students at the end of the last academic year. He has pointed to the growth of the CBC’s four-year programs, particularly its BAS and degrees in cybersecurity, project management and applied management. Those programs, however, remain relatively small compared to the college’s more traditional academic offerings.

The college president also has celebrated the increase in course loads for students, saying it indicates students have more financial stability and feel confident furthering their education.

This story was originally published October 23, 2015 at 5:05 PM with the headline "Enrollment moves up at CBC."