New Rumors but Same Absence Policy

Shea Chancey, staff writer

Rising, falling, stabilizing: this is a valid description of South Plains College’s enrollment over the past several years.

SPC has taken a dive into another era; one in which all matters of enrollment have stopped increasing and decreasing to an enormous degree,  finally becoming more stable from year to year.

This year’s numbers have varied from campus to campus. Some have increased dramatically, while others have begun to stabilize in size over the past four years, according to David Jones, vice president of student affairs at SPC.

Enrollment at the Levelland campus has decreased only 1 percent, with a total of 5,881 students.

The Plainview campus has had an amazing increase of 87.9 percent, with a total of 109 students which is “just as we expected,” said Jones.

Enrollment at the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center in Lubbock has decreased 11.3 with a total of 709 students.

Enrollment at the Reese Center in Lubbock has dropped 2.2 percent with a total of 3,510.

The off campus students, those taking dual credit courses in their high schools, have decreased 5.0 percent, totaling 959 students.

Altogether, without duplicated students who attend more than one campus, there are 9,308 students enrolled at SPC, overall dropping 2.9 percent since last year.

“I think numbers are beginning to stabilize due to three factors, the number of courses offered at Tech, the increase in gas prices, and the students’ appeal for the job market,” Jones said.

Jones said that the importance of Texas Tech University’s offered degrees greatly affects the total percentage of students in all South Plains Campuses. In 2002, Texas Tech recorded having 2,218 transfer students. Of these, 409 of those students came from South Plains College, the number one source for those Texas Tech transfers.

As of Sept. 6, most of South Plains College students are attending the Levelland campus. However during the fall of 2004, SPC reported only 8.7 percent of its students living in Hockley County. Jones said that poses a major issue with the continuing rise of gas prices throughout the United States. It may seem to be a slight issue to some, but as most of Levelland’s students drive to and from the campus Monday through Thursday, this minute issue becomes a major problem.

As many students begin to notice these higher prices, such as for gas, and everyday necessities, the need for jobs may become a higher priority for some than taking courses. The job market poses a major threat to education for young adults, according to Jones.

As a result, enrollment numbers for the Fall 2005 semester have varied from one campus to another. Nonetheless Jones said, “I believe most campuses are beginning to stabilize.” When comparing enrollment statistics to last year, this proves true.

Jones suggests that 10,000 students should be enrolled in several years’ time.