Colleagues:
As I shared at Spring Opening Session, I am feeling optimistic that we are turning the corner on overall enrollment gains after several years of decline. At the national level, college enrollment at both 2 and 4-year institutions has been on the decline since 2010 (12% from 2010-2020). The California Community College system equally experienced a gradual decline in both headcount and full-time equivalent students (FTES) since fall of 2017. It should be noted that while the pandemic exacerbated these declines, it was not the sole factor for declining enrollments.
IVC has employed intentional strategies to re-build our enrollment, such as focusing on retention and persistence efforts, outreach to prospective students, targeted marketing, proactive re-engagement and calling center campaigns, to name a few. Specifically, we have provided debt relief to remove financial barriers from re-enrolling, piloted an effective completion project to students who are a few classes from a degree or certificate completion, and expanded our instructional offerings to adult learners through our Adult ESL program.
Another reason for enrollment gains is that we are offering class modalities that are meeting student demand. The ease in which students accessed online education during the pandemic has in many ways re-benched how we schedule our course modalities. This is particularly relevant for students who are balancing other responsibilities such as work and family obligations. Student registration behaviors and expectations continue to shape our spring course offerings with 53% in-person; 36% online (asynchronous-27%; synchronous-9%); and 11% hybrid.
Our Spring 2023 enrollment metrics are rebounding, specifically in headcount, WSCH (weekly student contact hours) and FTES when compared to the same time-period last spring (Spring 2022). As of this writing:
- Headcount is up 5.98% or 13,128 students
- WSCH is up 6.94% and
- FTES is up 9.33%
While it is still early in the term, these metrics are encouraging because they report growth for the first time in four years. We have not yet returned to pre-pandemic enrollment numbers; however, with continued momentum we are on a positive trajectory.
Looking ahead, we will continue to monitor and respond to enrollment trends, maintaining an equity lens and an expansion of outreach and instructional offerings to non-traditional adult learners, engage faculty in re-envisioning career technical education, as well as using technology to address and remove real and perceived barriers.
I want to personally thank all those who are actively engaged in our enrollment and retention efforts. I appreciate your willingness to think creatively, try new approaches and keep a student and equity-centered focus.
Best,
John