Tech college sets enrollment record with 15% jump

Tech college sets enrollment record with 15% jump
By Dave Aeikens • daeikens@stcloudtimes.com • August 26, 2009

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Enrollment at St. Cloud Technical College has surged past the 4,000 mark for the first time in the school’s 61-year history.



The college reported 4,168 people enrolled when classes started Monday. That is up 15 percent from the previous year, President Joyce Helens said.

Helens attributed the growth to two things: the continued effort to improve the college and its programs, and a down local economy that has unemployed and underemployed people seeking new training.

Online courses have almost doubled from 850 students last year to 1,600, Helens said. Orientation programs drew more than double the number of expected students and early book sales this summer sold out.

The enrollment growth has created some pressure on the school.

“When you walk down the hall, there are people everywhere,” Helens said.

Many classes have waiting lists but students can still get into select courses, Helens said. Technical programs such as welding, drafting, architecture and surveying are full. Courses can be added as rooms become available.

Parking also has been a challenge. The college paved some dirt areas to provide additional spaces, and students can use the lot across the street at the Whitney Senior Center.

The technical college is looking at adjusting schedules to provide more options for classes, she said.

“Everybody is being so flexible and wonderful,” Helens said.

The technical college is in the process of changing its mission, and potentially its name, in the next year. The college wants to offer an associate of arts degree transferable to four-year schools. It offers such a program now but through Anoka-Ramsey Community College.

The proposed new name of the college is St. Cloud Technical and Community College. Helens said the hope is to have the changes in place for second semester. She is scheduled to present the plans to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities board in September.