Richland Community College continues to experience an upward trend in its enrollment with spring semester numbers up 5.45% in unduplicated headcount in comparison to spring 2019. These numbers include increases in headcount, total credit hours, and full-time students.
This is the third consecutive semester Richland has seen an increase in enrollment with fall 2019 headcount up nearly 15% and the summer 2019 semester experiencing an increase by 26%, the largest summer enrollment in five years. These numbers show promise for the college after enrollment began a steep decline in fall 2015 and continued downward until fall 2019.
According to ICCB, Illinois community college and state universities experienced a decline in enrollment of nearly 26% from 2009 to fall 2018. Statewide 700,702 students were enrolled in community colleges in 2009 in comparison to 519,387 in 2018. The statewide decline can be attributed to multiple factors including the recession, the higher education budget impasse and students exiting the state to enroll in higher education institutions.
Richland President Cris Valdez noted that an institutional focus on improving culture, growing enrollments and developing fiscal sustainability have placed Richland in a favorable position and students are participating at higher levels, realizing their dreams and completing their educational goals at higher levels as a result. He added, “We believe the work to be remarkable. Richland is becoming one of most agile public higher education institutions in this state. Our vision is to be the best and first choice in education.”
“The College has shifted its focus from a student advising model to coaching, said Valdez. “Our work is focused on what’s in the best interest of the student, which really has a positive impact on the institution. Coaching not only supports the recruitment of new students, but it also assists with our work on retaining our current students, which has experienced a 41% increase in next term student retention and a 370% increase in fall to fall student retention.”
Valdez added, “The creation, development and growth of new and unique programming like our EnRich Program, produces a space of continued collaboration between students and employers. We have been able to continue the development of relationships within the community, which supports our work in offering academic programming that is relevant to the needs of students and employers.” The EnRich Program was recently selected as a top 10 Bellwether National Awards finalist in the Workforce Development Category.
Dr. Isaac Zuniga, Vice President of Student Success, commented “This is an exciting time at Richland. We are seeing a larger percentage of students taking advantage of both workforce and transfer opportunities. As part of our institutional shift in student success team members continue to be available to help students explore potential careers, identify the best-fit program and successfully navigate the enrollment process throughout the year so that we continue to serve our surrounding community.”