Recession steers record numbers toward Virginia's two-year schools

During these tough economic times, more and more students are attending Virginia Community Colleges, seeking ways to obtain a reasonably priced education while improving their job skills.

The influx of more minorities, traditional and full-time students that are seeking higher education across the commonwealth is helping colleges exceed previously established enrollment records.

At Germanna alone, student enrollment for credit classes increased by 650 in fall 2008 to a total of 6,500, a 10 percent hike in students taking credit courses over the fall 2007 enrollment.

“In the most recent survey Germanna was the fastest-growing college in Virginia, at 12.5 percent for 2006-2007,” Germanna spokesman Mike Zitz said. “Our growth since then has continued at a similar pace, mainly because of rapid growth in Culpeper and the Fredericksburg area.

“But another factor is that in this economy, people feel the need to improve their skills to become more marketable and some need to look for entirely new careers.”

Statewide, a total of 8,324 more students enrolled in credit courses, bringing the fall of 2008 tally to 175,487. That’s 5 percent increase over the fall 2007 total.

“People are coming to their community college in record numbers because they know that’s where they can afford to access the opportunities that will let them start, and in many cases, restart their careers,” said Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges, in a news release. “People don’t stop dreaming about their future and their children’s future just because the economy turns lousy. They need a way to chase those dreams and that’s where our colleges come in.”

Zitz added that the total student headcount — including non-credit and Workforce students — exceeds 13,000 at Germanna’s three locations.

“People are signing up for both credit and non-credit courses in Cisco networking,” Zitz added. “That’s an industry where a lot of high paying jobs are available if you have the proper training.”

To put the growth in perspective, the enrollment increase throughout Virginia’s 23 Community Colleges — a total number of 16,285 between fall 2006 and fall 2008 — is larger than the individual enrollment of nine of the commonwealth’s 15 public four-year universities, according to college officials.

“As Virginia communities and employers look for ways to reduce job losses and get people back to work faster, our community colleges stand out as a strategic investment that delivers cost-effective results,” DuBois said. “The knowledge and skills our colleges teach to people pursuing degrees and certificates give the individual more and better job options and bolster the community, leaving the workforce better-educated and more globally competitive.”

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or rsimmons@starexponent.com.