[StBernard] NEWS: Flexible class schedules bring more students to La. Colleges

[Westley Annis]

NEWS: Flexible class schedules bring more students to La. Colleges 

Periodically, the press office will publish editorials, articles and columns that feature Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco's work in various areas. The following article from the Monroe News Star highlights the effects of Governor Blanco's education agenda, including the state's first need-based scholarship program for college students. Click here <http://www.gov.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&navID=50&cpID=169&cfmID=0&catID=0>  to read more about the governor's historic investment in education.

The News Star: Flexible class schedules bring more students to La. Colleges
Published: September 11, 2007

By Chris Day 

More students are beginning college this fall at one of Louisiana's community or technical colleges than ever before.

According to 14th-class-day enrollment figures for the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, 51,634 students have enrolled at the System's colleges this fall a 12.4 percent increase from last fall's enrollment.

LCTCS officials attribute the statewide increase to the more flexible class offerings made possible by this summer's legislative session. The state Legislature's 2007-2008 budget includes the largest single-year funding increase for public higher education in more than 25 years. 

"Gov. Blanco is the reason for this growth," said LCTCS president Joe May in a phone interview from Baton Rouge. "We can now offer more sections of classes than we could in the past. The Legislature gave us the dollars to do that."

May said Louisiana's general population now realizes that programs offered by both community and technical colleges align themselves with the needs of the workplace.

"If there's a nursing shortage, students will look for a nursing program," May said. "And today, if they look around the state, that's more likely to be at a community or technical college."

Northeast Louisiana's fall enrollment at both the Louisiana Technical College campuses and Louisiana Delta Community College in Monroe reflect the trend.

Delta saw a 20.9 percent increase this fall with 1,323 students, compared to last fall's 1,094. 

Delta officials attribute the growth to both the state's new Go Grants and dual enrollment programs, both aimed at making college more accessible for high school students preparing to graduate.

The Go Grant is the state's new need-based college aid program that helps bridge the gap between the financial aid that low-income students receive through federal Pell grants and the cost of attending a Louisiana college. Full-time eligible students receive an annual $2,000, and half-time eligible students receive $1,000.

While Delta students are not eligible for Pell grants, they can receive Go Grants.

Through its dual enrollment program, Delta brings college professors to the campuses of West Ouachita, Carroll, Wossman and Neville to teach high school juniors and seniors history, psychology and math courses for dual credit.

In addition to earning credit toward high school graduation, they also earn college credit that is transferable to any college in Louisiana. 

"That program is really growing by leaps and bounds," Delta spokesman Bob Jordan said. 

Jordan cited an estimated 160 students enrolled this year roughly twice the amount as last fall's participants.

Louisiana Technical College's region eight schools have 1,897 students enrolled this fall up 21 percent from last fall's 1,556 students.

Norene Smith, LTC's regional director, said the majority of the campuses saw significant enrollment increases this fall: a 37 percent increase at the Bastrop campus, a 33 percent increase at the Tallulah campus, a 9 percent increase at the Winnsboro campus, and a 30 percent increase at the Delta-Ouachita campus LTC's main campus in this region. 

"When industry demands some of these classes, we can offer them anytime at nights or on weekends," Smith said.

LTC programs include welding, heating and air conditioning technology, and Web-design programs.

LCTCS spokeswoman Kizzy Payton said more students in the state now realize the value of technical education, as more Louisiana jobs created in the coming decades will require more than a high school diploma.

"Everything from information technology to emergency medical technicians require more than a high school diploma," Payton said. "But they don't necessarily require a four-year degree."

View the article online at http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/NEWS01/709110312 

<http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/NEWS01/709110312> 

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