Wayne Community College expects record enrollment
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 17, 2004 2:04 PM
Wayne Community College officials are expecting record enrollment of more than 3,350 students this fall.
That number tops the previous record of 3,311, which was set in 2002.
At the end of registration Friday, 3,050 students were signed up and another 100 from an off-campus site had to be entered on Monday morning when classes resumed for the fall.
The second session of classes offered at the education center on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, which operates on an eight-week schedule, will add to the enrollment figure.
Last year's final fall semester head count was 3,181.
"The halls are full of students, and the parking lots are overflowing," said college President Edward H. Wilson. "The book store is doing a brisk business. There is no doubt that a new school year has begun."
Wilson reported that most classes are full, and new sections of core courses were opened to accommodate students.
The financial aid office has also been busy for the past few weeks. So far, 1,009 financial aid applications have been processed for this year and another 600 are expected. Last year's total was just over 1,400.
The Foundation of Wayne Community College has given more than 100 scholarships, and students were still coming in during the last hours of registration seeking assistance.
"We've got a lot of people who want a college education," Wilson said. "We're doing everything we can to help serious students get what they need now. We know that what they gain benefits the whole community and we are a 'community' college."
Wayne Community College, a public two-year college, serves nearly 14,000 people annually, as well as businesses and other groups in the area.