Cincinnati State’s enrollment rises 30 percent over year-ago levels

March 9, 2010

Enrollment at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College has again shattered its all-time high, rising 30 percent over the same period a year ago.

As of the close of the official reporting period for the Winter 2010 Term, enrollment stood at 11,319.

Last year at this time, Cincinnati State had just 8,692 students.

“For the longest time, the veterans here at Cincinnati State wondered when we were ever going to hit the 10,000-student milestone,’’ remarked interim president Dr. John Henderson. “Well, we raced past that milestone last year and didn’t even slow down. We are now at the point where our master plan predicted we would be in 2016.’’

The Winter Term enrollment marks an increase of 697 students, or 6.5 percent, over the previous term. It also represents the fourth consecutive term in which enrollment increased by at least 20 percent over year-ago levels, and the culmination of a longer-term period of growth that began in Autumn 2008.

The rapid growth at Cincinnati State reflects a trend seen at community and technical colleges across the country. Not only are they a cost-effective, job-focused alternative for recent high school graduates, they are also serving the needs of those displaced by the current economic downtown.

At Cincinnati State, there has been a marked increase in the number of older students over the past year, according to Anne Foster, director of the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness. She said college officials are encouraged by the fact that 88 percent of those enrolled for the current term are returning students – identical to the pattern a year ago when the enrollment spike was still in its infancy. This, she said, suggests that students, young and old, are sticking it out and pursuing their degrees.

Enrollment data show particularly strong growth in these majors over the past year:

• Medical Administrative Assistant Technology, up 118 percent
• Multimedia and Web Design, up 61 percent
• Auto Service Management Technology, up 49 percent
• Early Childhood Care and Education, up 42 percent
• Health Information Management, up 31 percent
• Surgical Technology, up 30 percent
• Electrical Engineering Technology, up 53 percent
• Emergency Medical Services Technology, up 52 percent
• Pastry Arts Technologies, up 62 percent

The enrollment boom at Cincinnati State has not forced College officials to close access to classes or turn away students. But it is beginning to cause problems in some areas.

Chief among them is parking. Students, faculty and staff have found that parking lots and garages on the main campus are often full during peak daytime hours. In an effort to relieve congestion the College has leased an overflow lot near the Hopple Street interchange and provides shuttle bus service to campus. Meanwhile, the administration is exploring other options to address the issue.

Cincinnati State operates on an academic calendar based on five terms (each about nine and a half weeks in length), rather than the quarters or semesters found at most colleges and universities. It is planning to convert to a semester system in 2012.