Fewer Community College Students in Oklahoma this Year
Oklahoma is just one of many states seeing fewer community college students head to class this fall. According to a report at News OK, most of the community colleges throughout Oklahoma are reporting enrollment drops as the academic year gets underway. During the past decade, enrollment in the state’s colleges shot up from around 88,000 students in 2000 to more than 117,000 by 2010. Much of that growth – around 16,000 students – occurred during 2009 and 2010: the years of economic recession across the country.
Arizona School Sees 11-Percent Decline
Pima Community College in Arizona saw an 11-percent enrollment decline at the beginning of this academic year as well. Fox 10 News reports that Pima officials are attributing the decline to a number of factors, including an improving economy and changes to admission requirements. The school now requires students to demonstrate a seventh-grade proficiency in reading, writing and math before they are allowed to take credit courses. However, in light of recent criticism regarding those policies, the school is relaxing standards slightly, which could result in a slight enrollment uptick.