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LCSC spring enrollment is up one
Bucking a regional trend, student enrollment this spring at Lewis-Clark State College shows a slight increase to mark the second-largest spring enrollment in the history of the college.
According to the college’s 10th day report, LCSC’s overall enrollment is at 3,234 students for the 2007 spring semester. The mark is just 22 students short of LCSC’s spring enrollment record of 3,246, set in 2004.
All state schools are required to file 10th-day reports to the State Board of Education and all school enrollment figures are based on the numbers on the 10th day of school. The 10th day of classes at LCSC this semester was Monday, Jan. 29.
The increase continues a strong growth pattern at LCSC. Spring enrollment has increased by more than 11 percent during the last six years under LCSC President Dene K. Thomas.
While other schools in the region showed a drop in headcount from the previous year, LCSC has one more student than a year ago. Overall, LCSC has 2,878 students taking classes from the Lewiston campus and another 356 at LCSC-Coeur d’Alene.
“It's better for LCSC to be up one than down one,” Thomas says. “In light of the continuing strong economy, I am pleased with LCSC's spring enrollment.”
The recent trend in enrollment has been when the economy is strong and jobs are plentiful, enrollment tends to drop. When jobs are scarce, more people tend to go back to college.
“Our hard work and quality programs have helped us remain level in our spring enrollments in spite of a robust economy, which generally leads to decreases in college enrollments,” says Andy Hanson, LCSC’s Dean of Student Services.
The college continues to play an important role in the diversity of the Lewiston-Clarkston area. LCSC set an all-time spring semester record for minority students with 363. That number comprises 11.2 percent of the LCSC student population. Of note, Asian, African-American and Hispanic student enrollment showed the biggest increases.
“LCSC presents a great value to the community and to students, and the community and students present a great value to the college,’’ Thomas says.
LCSC administrators point to a number of areas as reasons why the college is doing so well. Retention rates have improved, transfer and freshman enrollments continue to grow, and the college’s reputation continues to grow. LCSC has been recognized as one of the top comprehensive bachelor’s degree-offering public college in the West for six straight years by U.S. News & World Report. This year, LCSC is rated No. 1 in the West.
The LCSC Business Division continues to enjoy the largest jump in enrollment, with a 9 percent increase over last spring. The Natural Science Division, which includes mathematics, had a 5 percent enrollment increase from a year ago.
“Areas that reflect our primary mission continue to be popular, both in Lewiston and at LCSC-Coeur d'Alene,” LCSC Provost J. Anthony Fernandez says.
A growing trend is online courses, which is off to another record start. A total of 1,062 students are taking courses online, which is a 4.3 percent increase from a year ago. Hybrid courses, which have 30 percent or more of online delivery of instruction, is significantly up, while Internet Video Conferencing, which uses technology-equipped classrooms so that people at different sites can see the same traditional classroom lecture, has 172 students this spring.
A total of $9,868,450 in student aid, which includes scholarships, was awarded to students for the spring semester. This includes 51 out-of-state scholarships totaling $36,130 awarded to residents of Asotin County in Washington.
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