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Community College Enrollment Up

Tribune photo by LOIS KINDLE

President George Keith, left, and Academic Dean Allen Witt of Hillsborough Community College's new SouthShore campus said fall enrollment at the school exceeded projections tenfold.

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By LOIS KINDLE lkindle@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 15, 2008

RUSKIN - The first phase of Hillsborough Community College's SouthShore campus was projected to accommodate growth through the next five years.

But officials now say that by spring, the facility will already be at two-thirds capacity.

"Initial enrollment went far beyond even our most optimistic predictions," said Allen Witt, academic dean. "By the end of August, we had 1,500 students and 2,700 class enrollments. Based on previous enrollments at the SunPoint shopping center, the district expected 150 students, and we said 180."

George Keith, campus president, said several factors came into play:

•A decrease by the state on university enrollments

•An increase in fuel costs

•Pent-up demand in South Shore for higher education

•Several other HCC campuses filled up early

The surprising number of students required an increase in staff and faculty.

"Originally, we had three full-time employees; now we have 22, including four full-time instructors," Witt said. "We started with 10 part-time instructors, but we had to add 34."

Keith said they were told they'd have trouble hiring teachers in South Shore but found that wasn't the case.

"This area is talent-rich with people who have master's and doctorate degrees," he said.

"When our six buildings are completed by around 2018, we could be the size of the Brandon campus, which has more than 7,000 students," Keith said. "In our first semester, we're about a third of the size enrollment wise as the Plant City campus."

The average class size at the campus is 25 students, which is conducive to a more interactive exchange between teachers and students, Witt said.

"Our teachers say student attendance here is higher than anywhere else they've taught; attention is greater; and students are more engaged," he said.

Keith attributes those things to the newness of the campus, its ergonomics, the sense of comfort a small, community college provides and the personal interaction between students and faculty.

Clay Schafstall, 18, of Ruskin, a first-time student this fall, likes what he sees.

"It's a good community, the classes are small and the teachers are more one-on-one than at a large university," he said. "It has a good atmosphere. I like it here."

For information, call (813) 259-6100.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553.

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