SCC Sets Record Enrollment

Sylva - Southwestern Community College hit a 40-year record for the Fall 2004 semester with more than 2000 students enrolled. According to SCC officials, 2,012 students registered for classes in the college’s curriculum programs.

“Over the past decade, Southwestern has had a steady progression of growth,” SCC president Dr. Cecil Groves said. “Then in 1997, we changed from the quarter to semester system so that our students could more easily transfer to colleges within the University of North Carolina system. As a result, enrollment into our College Transfer Program accelerated, adding to our already growing enrollment.”

Gene Couch, SCC Vice President for Instructional Services, agrees, adding, “Whether they plan to transfer to a senior institution or to go directly into the workforce, people see us as the college of choice and recognize the value of an education received here.”

According to the Fall 2004 enrollment figures, the top overall increases were seen in the: Huskins Bill Students (high school students taking college credit courses); Associate of Arts in Elementary, Middle, and Special Education; Real Estate Certificate; Human Services, Substance Abuse; Early Childhood Associate; and Nursing Associate.

Significantly, enrollment in SCC’s Distance Learning programs grew by almost 100 students. Last year, the college offered 18 interactive television courses through Community Link and NCIH (the NC Information Highway) and had an enrollment of 269 students. Fall 2004 saw an increase to 365 students in these 18 courses.

Denis Keough, Director of Distance Learning at SCC, predicts that distance learning enrollment will only increase in the future as more and more people realize that the program offers both high quality instruction and convenience.

“Distance learning offers a quality education to students who might not be able to attend due to geographic, time, or personal constraints,” Keough said. “We’re excited that we can provide this segment of the population with such an opportunity.”

In 1964 SCC, then Jackson County Industrial Education Center, opened its doors with 60 students enrolled in full-time classes and 133 students signed up for short-term classes. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, today SCC serves Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties; offers classes in five centers in addition to the Sylva campus; and offers more than 40 curriculum programs.

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