Increased Enrollment at WCC

Classes are back in session at Wilkes Community College with an “unexpected increase” in enrollment.  WCC is facing a unique situation this semester. Paralleling the recession, enrollment numbers soared from 2007-2009, increasing 23 percent. WCC President Dr. Gordon Burns  explained that they were “busting at the seams” to accommodate students returning to the classroom for retraining.  College Officials believed enrollment numbers would not be sustained as the economy improved and would correct to normal levels.  Additionally, those students enrolling between 2007 and 2009 have now either graduated or their financial aid eligibility has expired. Since 2009, Wilkes Community has experienced the expected modest corrections in enrollment, a scenario that has played out at community colleges across the state.  WCC officials expected that correction to continue with the 2012-2013 enrollment.  However, a decrease in enrollment did not prove to be the case.  Dr. Burns said, “So we were surprised when we found out our curriculum enrollment has increased 5.5 percent as of Monday evening, the end of the first day of classes, compared to the end of the first day of classes last year.”  College officials say that more accurate numbers will be available this week, following the drop/add period.  Wilkes Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System, is a public, two-year, open-door institution serving the people of Wilkes, Ashe and Alleghany counties.