Latest Enrollment Increase Surprises Even Kirkwood Administrators

By Dave Franzman

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Sep 8, 2010 at 4:34 PM CST

Story Updated: Sep 8, 2010 at 4:50 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS- How do you top a huge enrollment increase in 2009? In the case of Kirkwood Community College, the answer is set yet another all-time enrollment record this fall.

A total of 18,456 students enrolled at the Cedar Rapids community college by the official count day of 2010. That number includes 10,673 who are taking classes at the main campus and 3,497 in Iowa City. Another 3,469 are using the Distance Learning programs offered by Kirkwood.

The numbers this year are up 3.5% over the enrollment in 2009. But what even amazed Kirkwood administrators is this latest record enrollment, the fourth in a row, came on the heels of a 17% increase in students in 2009.

Kristie Fisher, Kirkwood V.P. of Enrollment said “we didn’t think there’d be another surge. And it really surprised us. But the one thing about community colleges is we’re ready for surprises and we’re flexible.”

Fisher said the most recent spike in enrollment came on the heels of the faltering economy in 2008 and that was no surprise. In such times, enrollment at community colleges traditionally increases because people return to school to retrain for new careers. So Fisher said it’s possible some of the 2010 enrollment increase is an echo of the earlier boom as students complete a two year degree.

But students like Bart Bryant of Oxford and Gabriel Roth of Cumming are part of a trend that was in force even before the economy faltered. One of Kirkwood’s long time slogans is “start here—go anywhere.” And those two students do plan to save money with a couple of years in community college first followed by a transfer to a four year institution for a degree. Roth said he has a brother now attending the University of Iowa and that gives him a good basis for comparison.

“We have some of the same classes,” Roth said adding ”he’s doing the exact same things I’m doing here.” But Roth said he figures he’s saving $4,000 to $5,000 a year by starting at Kirkwood before transferring.

Kirkwood officials said a lot of students must be taking a similar path because enrollment in the Liberal Arts section increased from 3,772 students in 2009 to 4,510 students in the fall of 2010.

Official also said they do expect enrollment to level out at some point. But they actually expected that to happen this year.

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