South Louisiana Community College’s enrollment numbers for its summer semester show that more students are attending classes outside of the traditional fall and spring semesters.
“The college has seen a 20 percent increase in both summer semester headcount and credit hours over last summer,” said Debbie Tabchouri, SLCC Director of Enrollment Management. “This growth comes on the heels of SLCC seeing an increase in spring semester enrollment as well.”
The increase in summer semester enrollment can be credited to several initiatives, including a recent federal expansion of Pell grants, along with the college encouraging students to utilize this new funding.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Education authorized an expansion of its Federal Pell Grant program to fund up to 150 percent of a student’s Pell Grant for an award year. This means students can now utilize PELL funding beyond the traditional fall and spring semesters. In the past, Pell grants were not available for summer college courses.
“These numbers reflect a growing reality of year-round education,” said Dr. Natalie Harder, SLCC Chancellor. “We have an increasing number of students eager to get ahead, especially if that means saving time and money.”
This summer, the need for flexible class times by SLCC students led to a 150 percent growth in online course enrollment.
“Convenience and flexibility are the mantras of SLCC’s online programs, especially as we serve an increasing population of adult students with a wide range of family and professional responsibilities,” said Harder. “This growth is in line with a nationwide trend of rising demand for online courses.”
Summer enrollment growth was also seen at these SLCC campuses (credit hour growth displayed below):
Evangeline Campus in St. Martinville – 375 percent increase;
Gulf Area Campus in Abbeville – 236 percent increase;
New Iberia Campus – 40 percent increase; and
T.H. Harris Campus in Opelousas – 35 percent increase.
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ABOUT ACADIANA’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE
South Louisiana Community College is a comprehensive community college that operates campuses in Abbeville, Crowley, Franklin, Lafayette, Morgan City, New Iberia, Opelousas, St. Martinville, and Ville Platte. The college serves more than 13,000 students annually and offers an array of academic programs. Students earn associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificates, and industry-based certifications. It is ranked 14th among the Top 100 Associate Degree Producers as determined by Community College Week.