Tri-County's Fall Enrollment Tops 4,000

CONTACT: STUART SPIRES, EXT. 1579

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8/28/2002
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Tri-County Technical College's enrollment topped 4,000 for the fall semester, an unprecedented enrollment figure in the College's 40-year history in the tri-county area.

Registration figures for the second day of fall semester classes (August 20) revealed a 10.8 percent increase over this time last year, according to enrollment and registration reports. President Don C. Garrison attributes the surge in enrollment to tuition benefits available through the lottery and the growing number of students receiving Pell grants and LIFE Scholarships. As of August 27, $342,921 in lottery tuition scholarships had been granted to 881 students. Eligible full-time students were granted up to $468 for the fall semester depending on whether their net balance due the college is equal to or greater than $468 (after deducting Pell, SEOG and S.C. Needs-Based
grant awards).

The number of Pell grants awarded have "jumped through the roof," said Stuart Spires, director of Financial Aid at the College. Since July 1, 2002, $3,480,476 has been awarded in Pell grants as opposed to $2,614,455 for the entire 2001 – 2002 fiscal year. The requirements for lottery scholarships included someone must first complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). "This means that far more students applied for Pell grants this year and realized they were eligible," said Spires.

LIFE scholarships total $909,324 this semester as opposed to last year's figure of $527,368. In fact, $3.8 million in financial aid was awarded at Tri-County for 2001 – 02, and in the last six weeks (July 1 – August 19), the College already has awarded $5.8 million ($5,889,540) before the first day of classes.

"There has been a non-stop flow of students in our office," said Spires. Since July we have seen 4,708 students, and have averaged talking with 134 students per day. That translates into 59 percent more students who have asked our services."

It has been a team effort, said Spires. "We've had terrific support from the Student Services Division, as well as others on campus."

The new structure of Miller Hall, where everything is under one roof, has improved services to students as they move through the application, assessment, financial aid and admission processes in one centralized location.

No doubt, more and more students are choosing Tri-County for their educational needs, said Dr. Garrison.

Aside from the lottery funding, the high-tech skills needed by the workforce today is another reason for Tri-County's rising enrollment, he added. "The most common reason students say they enter or return to college is the realization that a college degree is a necessity for acquiring and maintaining employment in today's competitive workforce," said Dr. Garrison.

"We appeal to those looking for a technical degree. We're also a lead-in for those students planning to go the university transfer route and continue their studies at a four-year college or university. We serve as a buffer for the transition to a larger college. Flexibility in scheduling both day and evening classes is another factor that continues to attract students to Tri-County," said Dr. Garrison

Large percentages of our students work full- or part time. Another force on the campus is the non-traditional students, persons who are 30 years of age or older who are furthering their education for reasons ranging form job promotions to fulfilling the dream of a college degree after their children have completed school. Tri-County offers to meet the needs of a lot of people," he said.
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