College area enrollment increases

North Platte -- McCook Community College has more full-time students and fewer enrolled part-time, for an overall decrease, but the overall Mid-Plains Community College Area shows another substantial increase in the number of students enrolled in the Spring 2003 term.

Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors heard the enrollment report from Dr. Ford Craig, Dean of Research and Planning at their Board meeting last Wednesday evening. According to Dr. Craig, there were 107 more or a 9.6% increase in the number of full-time students enrolled in the institution for the Spring-2003 term as compared to enrollments on the same date one-year ago. Further, there are 189 more part-time students enrolled at the institution. Therefore, MPCC shows an overall 10.7 percent increase in the total number of students, and a 2.4 percent increase in the number of credit hours. But while the full-time, part-time and headcount numbers are important, the number of credit hours converted into full-time equivalency -- FTE -- is a major factor in the institution's revenue formula with the state. On the snapshot date this past month, Mid-Plains Community College had an increase of 468 credit hours that represent 15 additional FTE over the same date, one year ago.

At McCook Community College, there are 32 more full-time students but 49 fewer part-time students resulting in students enrolled in 247 fewer credit hours than it did at the same time a year ago. Overall, this represents a 2.2 percent campus decrease in headcount, a 3.8 percent decrease in credit hours and a decrease of 8 FTE.

Reporting enrollments at the community college level is complicated and sometimes not very accurate because classes start and stop all during the year. The only really accurate comparative figures occurs at the end of the year when the auditors certify the institution's enrollments. According to Dr. Craig, many community colleges throughout the country select one day each term and take a "snapshot" of enrollments on that day. The same "snapshot" day is repeated the next year and comparisons can then be made from year to year." February 15th continues to be the spring term "Snapshot" date for Mid-Plains Community College.

The figures show the McDonald-Belton Campus in North Platte has 60 more full-time students, and 91 more part-time students. When combined, McDonald-Belton Campus students are enrolled in 388 more credit hours representing a campus increase of 15.9 percent in headcount.