NW-SCC enrollment on the rise

MUSCLE SHOALS -- Enrollment figures at Northwest-Shoals Community College are up for the spring semester, with 3,321 students taking classes at the Muscle Shoals and Phil Campbell campuses.

Officials at the college attribute the 2 percent increase to higher numbers of students taking online courses. Almost 900 are enrolled in distance education courses.

In the past, enrollment growth at Northwest-Shoals had been an economic indicator. Higher numbers of students meant a bad economy as people sought job training for additional employment opportunities.

"The economy is not down right now, but the online courses give many who still work a chance to do that as well as take classes," said Tom Carter, director of admissions and recruitment at Northwest-Shoals.

The online program began in 1999 with some initial offerings in arts and sciences and is the result of a Title III grant that gave the college the money for course development.

There were 470 students enrolled during the program's first year.

Since then, the program has grown to include 33 courses, among them English, history, art, psychology, child development and criminal justice.

Carter said the college has developed a marketing campaign to appeal to the prospective student who wants to take college courses but isn't sure there's time.

"Students want more options," he said. "There are adults in the work force who want those options because they work full-time, travel or have kids, so they get online at 10 or 11 o'clock at night."

Already, Northwest-Shoals has made application to have an online degree option for students.

John McIntosh, director of planning and research at the community college, said he expects to get final approval for the program by the end of the semester.

"A primary reason for the growth -- 20 percent over this time last year -- comes as a direct result of the increased course offerings as well as upgrades in technology," he said.

Once established, the online program would add specialized degrees that could include a pre-business administration offering as well as something in criminal justice, McIntosh said.

Growing these offerings will be the key to continued growth in enrollment for Northwest-Shoals, Carter said.

"Traditional students will always be part of who we serve, but online courses are the wave of the future," he said.

Michelle Rupe Eubanks can be reached at 740-5745 or michelle.eubanks@timesdaily.com.