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LCSC sets its sixth straight enrollment record
Lewis-Clark State College continued its trend of impressive growth in student enrollment by setting an enrollment record for the sixth straight semester, according to the college's 10th day report.
The college set a spring enrollment record for the third consecutive year with 3,915 students for the current 2010 Spring Semester. That is the second-highest all-time enrollment mark, following the Fall Semester's all-time high for 4,200 students. Spring enrollments are always smaller than fall enrollments at LCSC.
The college followed its healthy growth pattern over the past decade. The 3,915 students is an 8.72 percent increase over last year's spring total of 3,601. Last year's enrollment was a 7.6 percent increase from Spring 2008. Over the past three years, LCSC’s spring enrollment has increased by almost 700 students.
During the past two fall semesters, LCSC's enrollment has increased by 6.6 percent and 9.1 percent, respectively.
LCSC also set a spring semester mark for full-time equivalency at 2,787.33, a 7.4 percent increase from last year's mark.
Over the past decade, LCSC's student population increased 1,194 students from 2001 when the college’s 10th day enrollment was 2,721. That is 43.9 percent increase in spring enrollment.
"In these tough economic times, we continue to serve the people of Idaho, particularly northern Idaho," LCSC President Dene K. Thomas says. "We're doing our job as an economic engine with increased enrollment."
College officials say they have awarded more than $15.8 million in financial aid for the spring semester – which includes scholarships, grants and loans – to be used for tuition, books, housing, food, and other living expenses.
"Healthy enrollment is particularly important in this time of economic difficulty," Thomas says. "We are preparing the next generation of Idaho workers and taxpayers."
Thomas and others credit LCSC's faculty and staff for their work and dedication to helping the college continue with its healthy growth.
"We are delighted to welcome so many new and returning students to our Spring 2010 semester," says LCSC Dean of Student Services Andy Hanson. "Our faculty and staff are committed to delivering a robust educational experience by meeting students wherever they are in their educational journeys and taking them where they want to go."
LCSC set several spring records, including headcount in its academic programs (2,865 students) and Professional-Technical programs (1,050). The latter is the first time the spring count has been more than 1,000 students.
LCSC also set spring semester records for both male and female headcount, full-time students, minority students, freshmen and seniors. LCSC-Coeur d'Alene also set an all-time enrollment mark with 399 students, topping the 396 total from the fall.
All state schools are required to file 10th-day reports to the State Board of Education. All school enrollment figures are based on the numbers on the 10th day of school. The 10th day of classes at LCSC this spring was Monday, Jan. 25.
LCSC's enrollment continues to be about a 60-40 split of female to male students. LCSC’s spring headcount has 2,377 female and 1,538 male students. LCSC also reported 379 minority students, which is also an all-time spring mark.
LCSC had a record 1,542 students who are considered freshmen (26 or less credits obtained) and 1,140 students who are considered seniors (90 or more credits).
Along with the above increases, LCSC also had a significant enrollment jump in its Nursing & Heath Sciences Division, thanks to Sacajawea Hall, which opened last fall. Sacajawea Hall is the new home to the division as well as labs and classes for the Natural Sciences & Mathematics Division. The Nursing & Health Sciences Division has 593 students enrolled this spring, a jump of 139 students last fall. The Division is the most popular on campus, followed by the Business Division, which has 514 students. The Social Science Division has 472 students, while the Education Division has 452 students.
Although the college had its highest non-traditional student head count (age 26 and older) for the spring in six years, the overall average age of the college continues to get younger. The average age of an LCSC student is 25.54 years, down from 27.6 in 2004.
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