Enrollment numbers
crucial this semester
This year's figures determine State funding for next two
years, so NLC steps up marketing campaign
By Glen Sovian
Staff Writer
If the preliminary statistics are
any indication, North Lake has
inched past the spring enrollment
figures in 2006 and retained its position
as the fourth largest college
in the Dallas County Community
College District (DCCCD).
At the end of the ninth class day,
the DCCCD statistics for credit students
show that the overall head
count and contact hours for the
fledgling semester are up by 1.0
and .8 percent, respectively, from
the same period a year ago.
The preliminary data indicate
that the current 2007 spring enrollment
figures have actually surpassed
the overall spring 2006 enrollment
figures, which were compiled
after the nineteenth class day.
With a student population of 8,781
on Jan. 25, North Lake trails only
Richland, Brookhaven and Eastfield
colleges in terms of the number of
registered credit students.
State funding for most classes
is based on the full-semester credit
classes reported on the
census date or the twelfth
day of classes. Class registration
continues throughout
the semester for some
fast-track and flex-term
classes, which are shorter
in duration.
The enrollment figures
and contact hours
are particularly crucial
this semester because
they are part of the Base
Funding Year that determines
the future funding allotment
from the state of Texas.
"We are currently in the second
year of the previous funding period.
This year sets our state funding
level for the next two years. That's
why we don't want to have an enrollment
problem or decline," said
Christa Slejko, North Lake vice
president of business services.
Because a slide in enrollment
could mean a significant drop in state
aid, the college stepped up
its marketing campaign last
summer to become more
attractive to new students.
North Lake's extensive ad
campaign using pre-movie
presentations, lawn signs,
newspaper ads and mailouts,
is part of the larger,
multi-faceted campaign by
the DCCCD.
Janis Browning, the director
of marketing and
public information at North
Lake, said, "I think it does raise
awareness of the college. It's an
awareness of who we are and where
we are so when they [the students]
think of college, they think of North
Lake."
However, besides new student
registration, student retention underscores
a challenge faced by the
college administrators. From one
semester to the next, the college
typically loses a large percentage of
students that could easily tip the enrollment
scale.
"Our biggest challenge is to help
students to be successful. We do a
good job to get students to the door
but we have to do a better job to retain
them," said Mary Ciminelli,
North Lake vice president of student
services and enrollment management.
"This is not just a problem
at North Lake but in the whole
district."
Intended to stem the tide, the
spring campaign focuses on the
current students with programs
such as Step On It and the Weekend
College Scholarship. Browning said
the college has reminded returning
students to register by distributing
flyers in Subway bags, sending out
electronic mails and delivering special
mailing.
Through Step On It, all currently
registered students are eligible
to win iPods, flash drives and
a grand prize of a laptop computer.
The Weekend College Scholarship
offers 50 scholarships that entitle
new students to a free class when
they take 6 hours of weekend, fasttrack
classes.
In conjunction with the marketing
effort, the Welcome Back Party
this semester has taken on an added
importance. In addition to free refreshments,
music and giveaways,
the prize drawing for the Step On
It will take place during the event.
Student Programs and Resources
(SPAR) will host the event on Jan.
31, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
"The Welcome Back Party has a
dual purpose. It's an appreciation to
the students who come back for another
semester but I also consider it
as a kickoff to celebrate first-time
students," said Drena Settles, SPAR
coordinator who organizes
the event.
Based on the data from the
DCCCD Office of Research,
since 2005, North Lake has
been one of only two among
the seven DCCCD colleges
that consistently sees a positive
growth in enrollment,
both in spring and fall. But
the college enrollment has
experienced a slower growth
in the past year.
At press time, it is yet to
be seen if North Lake can
reverse the downward trend
in the percentage growth
rate with the 2007 enrollment.
|
