Summer classes see enrollment spike

Colleges in Texas have had a continuous growth in student enrollment each year since 2004, and North Lake College is no exception.

"We know that economy is a factor," said Teresa Isbell, director of Institutional Research Planning and Development. "Also, many students come back from universities to finish courses at a less expensive rate."

Isbell also this year's summer enrollment is significantly higher then last year's. Summer I is generally larger than Summer II, she said, because many high school graduates begin their college careers with Summer II and may not finish their high school classes in time to enroll.

NLC's 2007 Summer I enrollment was 3,950. The 2008 enrollment increased to 4,250 students. Currently, there are 4,822 enrolled in Summer I 2009 courses.

Of all students enrolled for Summer I, 33.7 percent are between the ages of 16 to 20, the age group with the highest percentage of enrollment. Based on statistics, the age 26 is considered to be the average student age at North Lake.

However, student age varies from 15 to 80, and their reasons for attending college also vary. "For most young students, college attendance is for the intention of making more money," said Yan Avram, coordinator, Planning and Research, "and older students normally attend college for the enrichment of their knowledge."

According to the recent statistics from the Institutional Research Development and Planning department, there has been an increase of enrollment of students of almost every ethnical background. Approximately 40 percent of students enrolled for Summer I classes are Caucasian, about 20 percent are Hispanic, 16.7 percent are Asian or Pacific Islander, 16.1 percent are African-American, 0.5 percent are American Indian, 2.8 percent are non-resident alien and 3.7 percent are unknown.

In Texas, attendance has increased in public 2-year colleges by 60,134 students from fall 2004 to fall 2008. Last semester, North Lake had its largest enrollment yet for any semester: 10,998 students.