EGCC spring enrollment hits another high

Staff report

steubenville

Eastern Gateway Community College eclipsed its historic enrollment records again this spring.

New students came to the college, pushing enrollment to another all-time high. The total student count hit 2,519 this spring.

A 40 percent increase in new students fed the large increase. The 40 percent includes large increases in new students for Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties at 118 percent, 70 percent and 38 percent, respectively. Jefferson County recorded 25 percent more new students.

Overall, the student head count jumped 15 percent over last spring’s 2,190 total. The student count in the Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull area grew 67 percent from spring 2011.

The three-county total stands at 813. This includes students enrolled in classes at the Valley Center in Youngstown, Warren Center, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Warren and the four career centers in the three counties.

It also takes in students in Youngstown Early College and dual- enrollment students who are taking college classes in their high schools.

“Eastern Gateway is fulfilling a critical area in meeting the educational needs of citizens in our service area,” said James Baber, executive vice president for academic and student services. “The citizens of Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties need a community college that will address training and educational needs of students so they can re-enter the workplace.”

Based on goal selection, the majority of students are seeking degrees or taking classes to enter the job market or to upgrade their job skills.

Noting the surge in new student enrollment, Marlana Haynes, interim director of admissions and recruitment coordinator, said, “Our admissions team has been working hard to be innovative in our recruitment efforts so we are thrilled to see a 40 percent increase in new students this spring. We have more new students in every demographic: resident county, race, age, gender, etc.

“It is exciting to go into the summer and fall registration period, starting this March, with such great momentum. This momentum, in combination with opportunities brought about from new industry moving into the area, gives us promise that enrollment will continue to grow,” she said.

Eastern Gateway’s dual- enrollment option is growing in the Mahoning Valley.

Students at these high schools are taking college credits at their schools: Bristol High School and Life Skills Center, both in Trumbull County; and Buckeye Online School for Success and Southern Local, both in Columbiana County.

Jefferson County residents make up more than half of the student body at 55 percent, followed by Mahoning County at 21 percent, Trumbull at 6 percent and Columbiana at 5 percent.

A third of Eastern Gateway’s students take at least one class online.