The number of students enrolled in Alabama’s technical and community colleges has already surpassed the numbers of last year with a record-breaking level of enrollments in the classes for the fall semester and a 3rd consecutive year of increases in enrollment across the state.
LBW Community College reached a record-breaking 2119 students during the autumn semester, which is an increase of 9.74 percent increase over the previous year’s enrollment. An increase of 7 percent of freshmen who are first-time students, along with more than 1000 dual-enrolled students which resulted in a 5 percent growth in the number of credit hours when compared to last year’s.
LBW president Dr. Brock Kelley attributes the growth in enrollment to the commitment to College employees. “Our staff and faculty are striving to enhance the quality of our resources and to give our area of service many educational opportunities.”
“We recently had a meeting on our advisory boards that provide direction to help us create a suitable and appropriate courses for our career pathways. Alongside offering courses for students who are pursuing degrees, LBW is also committed to helping students develop their abilities and earn qualifications through our adult and workforce education departments.”
The Adult Education Program has increased the number of students it serves to 17.5 percent and the completion rate of 80.6 percentage this time around, providing 524 students and presenting 1,210 certificates. The program has seen an incredible 115.4 percent growth in the number of high school equivalents, with 56 completed to date.
Noncredit and workforce development programs are also growing. The LBW’s Skills for Success, a free training program for skills that lets students can earn credentials for workforce within two weeks is instrumental in meeting the demands of the local industry. More than 350 certificates were issued this year, including the highest-quality training for commercial driver’s licence (CDL) as well as heavy equipment, as well as food and drink.
LBW Workforce Development and Continuing Education have extended apprenticeship programs to include nursing and welding as well as introducing pre-apprenticeships to Mechatronics Diesel Technician and welding.
All across the state, registration for Spring is up by over 17% compared to the same time the previous year. This is the third straight year of enrollment has increased throughout Alabama. Alabama Community College System, contrary to national trends for community colleges which recently saw growth of around 4 percent during the fall semester as per the National Student Clearinghouse.
“Enrollment rises are a great thing which means more people are seeking out education that can help them succeed however it’s not only credentials and education in Alabama’s community and technical colleges that people are looking for,” said Jimmy H. Baker as the Director of the Alabama Community College System.
“Residents and employers are both interested in the partnership opportunities, wraparound services as well as career and scholarship services that their community colleges provide and we, because of our the nature of being a part of the community, need to remain in tune with local workforce’s requirements. Our community is what the system was established for 60 years ago and that’s what it will always do.”
Spring semester at LBW begins Jan. 8, 2024. Sign up for classes at www.lbwcc.edu.
The article The increase in enrollment in all Alabama Community College System academic courses and workforce programs was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.
