Spring Enrollment declines as Gas Prices Rise

 Amanda Hurt-Piercy, staff writer

Decrease Seen in SPC Enrollment

With the 2006 spring semester underway, South Plains College is seeing a decline in enrollment numbers across all campuses.

As of Jan. 30, SPC has enrolled a total of 8,583 students, down from the 9,308 students who were enrolled during the fall of 2005 and decreasing 4.1 percent from spring 2005. “It looks like we are seeing a slight decrease at each of our campuses,” said Andrea Rangel, dean of admissions and records.

Enrollment at the Levelland campus has stayed exactly the same since spring 2005, with a total of 5,395, though 486 fewer students are enrolled since fall 2005. The Plainview campus had an amazing increase of 154.0 percent from this time last year, with a total of 127 students, gaining 18 students from fall 2005. Only 50 students were enrolled at Plainview in spring 2005.

Enrollment at the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center in Lubbock has decreased 2.3 percent from last spring, with a total of 629 students. That total is 80 fewer students than the fall semester. Enrollment at the Reese Center in Lubbock, Texas Tech University and those part of the Gateway Program declined 6.0 percent, with a total of 3,382 students. The Reese Center saw a drop of approximately 250 students alone.

The number of off-campus students, those who are taking dual-credit courses in their high schools, decreased 7.3 percent, with a total of 891 students, down 68 students from the totals in the 2005 fall semester.

“These numbers will continue to fluctuate slightly until the official census date on February 2,” said Rangel.

The number of duplicated students decreased 2.1 percent from spring 2005, slipping slightly from 10,649 students to 10,424. Those students who are taking classes at multiple campuses have increased 8.5 percent, from 1,696 in spring 2005 to 1,841.

“There is going to be a slight decrease in enrollment numbers,” said David Jones, vice-president for student affairs. “Enrollment numbers are mainly going down because the economy is so high. There are more available jobs in the workforce now, which may hold a higher priority than school for some students. Gas prices are high, making it more difficult for the commuter population. And now that Texas Tech has expanded the Pathway program to other community colleges, students now can stay home and take courses at colleges close to them instead of coming to SPC. That, and the fact that Texas Tech is no longer offering math and English developmental courses, has also added to the decline in student enrollment.”

Rangel says that the decline in enrollment at SPC needs to be looked into and analyzed to see why the drop in students is taking place, and, as an institution, do what has to be done to get enrollment back up at all campuses.