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McDowell Tech sees record number of new students for spring semester

Many courses filled; budget constraints limit available sections.

photo by Britt Combs

Returning students were joined by a steadt flow of new students at MTCC's registration desk Monday.

By Britt Combs | The McDowell News

Published: January 5, 2009

Updated: 01/05/2009 06:56 pm

Normally enrollment at McDowell Tech declines a bit from the fall semester. But not this year. A record number of students have registered for spring semester classes, according to the school's director of external relations, Michael Lavender.
"Before the Christmas break," he said, "it looked as if we could have a couple hundred extra." But the flow of enrolling students has continued. In a short time Monday morning Lavender saw 30 new students joining the lines in the print shop to get their student IDs made.
The economy, he said, and rising unemployment in the community are responsible. Now whole sections of classes are full.
"This is definitely the largest enrollment we have had," he said. The totals have not been computed yet, but he said it was very likely that enrollment records were being broken this week.
Registration will continue today in two sessions. From 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 until 6:30 p.m. During those hours faculty members and advisors will be on hand in the Student Commons. Entering and returning students can speak with instructors, get their schedule signed, walk it through the admissions, financial aid and business offices and visit the book store in one stop.
Classes for the spring semester begin on Wednesday.
Returning students will notice a couple of changes. The school new requires a parking permit sticker be displayed in their vehicle's windshield. The cost of the permit is $5. Lavender said the permits will serve two purposes. They will provide a source of revenue to help in needed maintenance and repair of existing parking lots, and will enable campus security to easily determine who has legitimate business at the school and help them indentify loiterers.
A minor increase in student activities fee is now in place. A full time student (enrolled in 12 credit hours of classes) will now pay $10 as opposed to the old rate of $7.50.
The increase in student body comes as schools across the state face budget difficulties. State budget cuts have led to a hiring freeze at the college, Lavender said. As classes and whole programs fill up, the school may be able to add adjunct teachers to teach extra classes. New sections have been added in some departments.
He said classes pertaining to the healthcare industry were seeing unprecedented growth as workers displaced by this year's plant closings are seeking retraining.
"Nursing assistant classes, health information technologies, these are in high demand right now," said Lavender. "We sent out an announcement that all the physiology and anatomy classes were full."