NTCC offers on-campus Summer Success Program for area high school students

Enrollment numbers at Northeast Texas Community College are up sharply this summer. Dr. Josh Stewart, NTCC Vice President for Student and Outreach Services, reported that the summer enrollment headcount is up by 15.3 percent at the NTCC Board of Trustees at the regular June meeting Tuesday.

Applications for admission and enrollment for the fall 2016 semester are also running well ahead of this time last year, as well.

“There is a cycle of enrollment at community colleges that tends to follow employment. When people need jobs, they enroll at community college because they know our programs lead to better opportunities,” Stewart said.

Stewart pointed to the new Summer Success Program as one factor that impacted summer enrollment numbers. This initiative provided graduating high school seniors a chance to live on the NTCC campus this summer and participate in special classes to help them successfully transition from high school to college. Thirteen students enrolled in the program for the Summer I session and there will likely be a similar number stay on for Summer II.

“We are very pleased with the Summer Success Program and see real value in giving students a chance to live on campus during the summer. The experience should be useful for them whether they stay on with us at NTCC or transfer to a university this fall,” Stewart said.

A number of changes in enrollment processes and procedures may be contributing to the early increase in fall numbers.

“We are working diligently to simplify and expedite the student enrollment experience. We want to provide a smooth, easy-to-understand process from application to attending classes. I think we are moving in the right direction and we believe students will notice a difference this summer as they go through the process,” Stewart said.

The Board approved two new hires at the meeting. Jeff Chambers was hired for the position of Vice President of Administrative Services and Scott Wilhite was hired as the Director of Residential Life. Wilhite had previously held the position in an interim appointment.