CC sees enrollment increase for spring

Clarendon College has more students than a year ago, according to preliminary enrollment figures for the 2007 spring semester.

As of the 12th class day, which was last Wednesday, CC had a total enrollment of 993 students. That’s up from 983 last spring and 953 in the spring of 2005.

“We’ve got good folks who have done a good job recruiting, and we’ve got new programs and classes in Childress and Pampa,” said CC President Myles Shelton. “It’s a lot of little successes that add up to a significant difference.”

Enrollment has fallen slightly on the home campus in Clarendon from 377 last spring to 360 now, and the same has happened at the CC Pampa Center, where the number of students fell from 245 to 203. Shelton said those losses may be attributed to the commuter students now attending class in Childress.

“Our dorm counts are holding steady,” Shelton said.

The most important figure though is the number of contact hours CC is generating, which is a method the state uses to determine the college’s funding. Contact hours have increased 13.9 percent from 206,768 in spring 2006 to 233,840 this spring.

“This is what’s called a base period, and that determines funding for the next two years,” Shelton said.

Fall contact hours are also considered during the funding cycle, and CC has increased contact hours by 15.7 percent between the fall of 2004 and the fall of 2006.

That’s a bigger percentage than any other community college in the state, and CC hopes to lead the state again this spring.

In other college business, the CC Board of Regents met in called session last Friday during which it considered and approved a resolution and agreement to hold joint elections with the City of Clarendon, Clarendon ISD, and the Donley County Hospital District.