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Student enrollment at DeKalb Technical College for the Fall Quarter 2009 is at its highest level since 2004 according to enrollment officials. Current enrollment figures show 4992 students are enrolled in classes for the Fall Quarter, which began October 3, 2009. This marks a 25 % increase over Fall 2008. The high enrollment numbers are due, in part, to a weak economy and high unemployment figures according to Dr. Tanya Gorman, Vice President of Academic Affairs for
DeKalb Technical College. Gorman says, “Historically, the relationship has never failed: unemployment increase equals enrollment increase. It’s a “forced opportunity” for many to return for new skills, upgrade of skills or change of career.” Executive Vice President Larry Teems indicates that DeKalb Tech can be the silver lining in an otherwise gray economic cloud. “Now that these students are enrolled in one of the State’s premier technical colleges, they not only have the HOPE grant, but “hope” for a brighter future knowing they will get the technical skills they need from DeKalb Technical College to be competitive in such a tight economic market,” says Teems.
Nearly a dozen academic programs offered by DeKalb Tech have seen enrollment increase by 50% or more from the Summer Quarter 2009. They include:
+86% |
Marketing Management Diploma |
+86% |
Automotive Technology Degree |
+81% |
Business Administrative Technology Diploma |
+68% |
Business Administration Degree |
+65% |
Computer Support Specialist Diploma |
+65% |
Technical Communications Certificate |
+60% |
Cisco Network Specialist Certificate |
+55% |
Marketing Management Degree |
+54% |
Basic Law Enforcement |
+51% |
Computer Programming Diploma |
+50% |
Business Administrative Technology Degree |
Overall enrollment has increased 44% between Summer and Fall quarter this year. The enrollment figures are current, but are expected to drop slightly in the next two weeks as students add or drop classes and as tuition payments are verified and schedules solidify. Dr. Gorman points to several additional factors that may have contributed to the enrollment increase including enhanced and expanded marketing efforts as well as enhanced and targeted retention strategies. In recent years DeKalb Tech has also opened new buildings on the main Clarkston campus as well as renovated existing buildings. “This has created a “new face” of the College,” says Gorman. She adds, “Enrollment dropped during construction.”
Typically enrollment increases for Fall quarter compared to Winter, Spring and Summer quarters. Currently there are 3922 students enrolled at the Clarkston campus; 1514 students at the Covington/Newton campuses; 190 students at the Rockdale Career Academy; 23 enrolled in the Electrical Line Worker’s Program; 34 students are enrolled for Commercial Truck Driving; 25 students are enrolled in Emergency Medical Services (EMS)- Clarkston and 50 people are enrolled in the Covington EMS program.
DeKalb Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, promotes a student-centered environment for lifelong learning and development, encompassing academic and technical education for employment in a global community. The college has eight centers of learning in DeKalb, Newton, Rockdale, and Morgan counties. Established in 1961, DeKalb Technical College currently has more than 4,000 students enrolled in diploma or degree programs and more than 9,000 in adult education classes. Academic and Technical programs at DeKalb Tech cover more than 100 different occupations. For more information visit our website at www.dekalbtech.edu.
Photo: Terry Richardson – Director of Admissions speaks to hundreds of new students during orientation.
