FOR
RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY
DATE: Sept. 18, 2009
CONTACT: Lisa
Skari: (206) 870-3705, lskari@highline.edu
Highline Community College
programs see surge before fall start
Students
flood Worker Retraining program, Financial Aid office
DES MOINES, Wash. — Highline
Community College’s Worker Retraining program and Financial Aid office have
seen a surge in student interest before classes start Monday, Sept. 21.
“Despite budgets cuts that
forced Highline Community College to reduce staff and cut programs, the
college’s faculty and staff remain committed to providing students access to
higher education,” said Highline President Dr. Jack Bermingham.
“As we open our doors next
Monday, we are leveraging all possible resources to help students get the
classes and support they need to meet their educational goals,” he said.
“We are on pace for the highest
quarterly enrollment of state-funded students in Highline’s history,” said
Tonya Benton, director of Institutional Research.
Worker Retraining, a program
that helps people who are unemployed or facing imminent layoff learn new
professional skills to get back in the work force, has seen a 58 percent
increase compared to fall 2008.
The program capped enrollment
on Sept. 4 at 700 students for fall quarter 2009. Students interested in the
program can apply later this fall for winter quarter funding.
“The increase can be attributed
to current job openings requiring more experience and credentials and the high
unemployment rate,” said John Huber, Highline’s Worker Retraining program
manager.
The state unemployment rate
increased to 9.7 percent in August.
Financial aid applications have
climbed by 38 percent compared to last year and Highline has already awarded
funds to around 2,150 students compared to 1,200 this same time last year.
As of Sept. 18, the college’s
student enrollment has increased around 9 percent, excluding basic skills
students, compared to last fall and the college has registered 7,208 students
for fall quarter 2009.
The preliminary data does not
reflect last-minute signups expected before classes start.
In addition, Highline shattered
its record for summer enrollments in 2009 with more than 7,460 students, a 13
percent increase from summer quarter 2008.
Highline
Community College was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King
County. With approximately 18,300 students and 350,000 alumni, it is one of the
state’s largest institutions of higher education. The college offers a wide
range of academic transfer and professional-technical education programs, with
day, evening, online and weekend classes.
With
the most diverse population of any college in Washington state, Highline takes
a multicultural approach to education for the success of all its students and
the prosperity of its surrounding communities. Alumni include former Seattle
Mayor Norm Rice, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida and Washington state poet laureate
Sam Green.
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