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Taft College opens its spring semester next Tuesday with a slight increase in numbers despite trimming back on its offerings.
Like other community colleges in California, TC was forced into budget cuts that included reducing the number of course offerings. Over the past three years the community college system, which serves 2.6 million students, has seen its budget reduced by 14 percent.
Last fall Taft College found itself in a situation it had never faced before – turning away students.
Because of its size, however, TC is among small college districts that received a revenue boost that allowed it to restore some courses, but not all.
“Most of our courses are full, but some have openings,” said Brock McMurray, vice president of student services. “We were able to reinstate some of the courses we had to cut, and that helped a little.”
Overall headcount, as of Wednesday, was up 189 over a year ago – 2,707 compared to 2,518 in 2011.
However, numbers in the most important category – full-time students taking 12 or more units of coursework – dropped 170 from last year’s count on the same date, 1,007 compared to 1,177.
Those enrolled in 6-11.5 units increased by 98, moving to 830 this year from last year’s 732.
Students enrolling in up to 5.5 units showed the largest jump – from 577 in 2011 to 838 this year, or an increase of 261.
Thirty-two are enrolled in non-credit courses, the same number as a year ago.
The numbers show more students enrolling overall but taking fewer units.
McMurray said registration will continue through next week.
Students can enroll online at www.taftcollege.edu or in the Student Service Center, where counselors and counseling aides are available to facilitate the registration process.
The website has the full spring semester class schedule and information on classes that are closed.
The campus will be closed Monday in observance of the Martin Luther King holiday.
Questions can be answered by calling 763-7748.
Taft College opens its spring semester next Tuesday with a slight increase in numbers despite trimming back on its offerings.
Like other community colleges in California, TC was forced into budget cuts that included reducing the number of course offerings. Over the past three years the community college system, which serves 2.6 million students, has seen its budget reduced by 14 percent.
Last fall Taft College found itself in a situation it had never faced before – turning away students.
Because of its size, however, TC is among small college districts that received a revenue boost that allowed it to restore some courses, but not all.
“Most of our courses are full, but some have openings,” said Brock McMurray, vice president of student services. “We were able to reinstate some of the courses we had to cut, and that helped a little.”
Overall headcount, as of Wednesday, was up 189 over a year ago – 2,707 compared to 2,518 in 2011.
However, numbers in the most important category – full-time students taking 12 or more units of coursework – dropped 170 from last year’s count on the same date, 1,007 compared to 1,177.
Those enrolled in 6-11.5 units increased by 98, moving to 830 this year from last year’s 732.
Students enrolling in up to 5.5 units showed the largest jump – from 577 in 2011 to 838 this year, or an increase of 261.
Thirty-two are enrolled in non-credit courses, the same number as a year ago.
The numbers show more students enrolling overall but taking fewer units.
McMurray said registration will continue through next week.
Students can enroll online at www.taftcollege.edu or in the Student Service Center, where counselors and counseling aides are available to facilitate the registration process.
The website has the full spring semester class schedule and information on classes that are closed.
The campus will be closed Monday in observance of the Martin Luther King holiday.
Questions can be answered by calling 763-7748.
