College enrollment hits new high

Clarendon College reported a record enrollment after the 12th class day Friday.
CC officials say the college’s fall headcount stands at 1,586 – the highest in the school’s 112-year history and an increase of more than 11 percent over the previous fall enrollment record, which was set last year.

“A few years back, some laughed that we could have 1,000 students,” CC President Bill Auvenshine said. “Now here we are with nearly 1,600.”
Auvenshine credited the college’s success to its effort to provide opportunities for people close to home.

“We’re trying to meet the educational needs of the eastern Texas Panhandle,” Auvenshine said, pointing to new programs such as EMT training, welding, wind energy, cosmetology, and heating and air-conditioning. “We always come up with something new.”

Clarendon College enrollment has grown steadily the last four years, and fall enrollment this year is 44 percent above the same period in 2006. The growth has been a team effort.

“We have good instructors who take a personal interest in our students,” the president said. “We have two full time recruiters now and a full time marketing coordinator. The result is we can get a lot done.”

This fall’s enrollment breakdown is as follows: 486 in Clarendon, 416 in Pampa, 59 in Childress, and the balance in dual credit and online classes.