(Shoreline, Wash., January 24, 2024)– Shoreline Community College (Shoreline)
Shoreline Community College is pleased to announce a significant upward enrollment trend, demonstrating a positive trajectory in student numbers over the past four quarters. The college attributes this surge to a combination of dedicated efforts by campus leaders, faculty, and staff, along with the implementation of innovative programs and outreach initiatives. “We are thrilled to see increased enrollment here at Shoreline. Community colleges play a crucial role in transfer to four-year degree programs, and workforce readiness, and seeing this change is really wonderful,” said Dr. Jack Kahn, President of Shoreline Community College.
Announcing the encouraging trend, Ann Garnsey-Harter, Associate Vice President of Planning, Institutional Effectiveness, and Project Management at Shoreline Community College, stated: “Our enrollment numbers have been up for the last four quarters, so I think we can call it a trend now.” For example, the College has seen a 7% increase in students enrolling for the current winter 2024 quarter as compared to one year prior. In total, the College is serving 3,660 full-time equivalent (FTE) students this winter quarter. (One FTE is the equivalent of one student enrolled in 15 college credits for this quarter). This new trend of increased enrollments is significant in that it is the first winter quarter enrollment increase in five years.
Lucas Rucks, Acting Vice President of Instruction, also weighed in on the positive development, offering insights into the reasons behind the enrollment surge. “Coming out of a pandemic and seeing enrollment return tells me two things,” Lucas stated. “One- across the campus, the deans, faculty, and staff have worked extremely hard to provide access to students by following the data and meeting their needs. Two, we have high-quality programs that appeal to the region and support skill development for industry leaders and our university partners.”
Often in an economic downturn there is a notable uptick of students across the nation returning to school, but that was not the case during the pandemic. At the height of the pandemic, there was a lot of uncertainty in the job market and many individuals deferred career retraining, upskilling, or career advancement as a result. Additionally, the lack of wrap-around community services during the lockdown periods created barriers for those with diverse needs.
When asked about the College’s enrollment strategy post-pandemic, Acting Vice President Rucks attributed an increase in enrollment to proactive outreach, effective advising, and strong partnerships with K-12 institutions and the community. The College is collaborating with community partners to better meet the needs of students, by offering financial aid workshops; providing onsite assistance in answering financial aid questions; and helping to remove barriers to enrollment. According to Rucks, “We also have adapted our learning modalities to better suit the needs of students, modifying class schedules, piloting late-start classes (classes that start later in the quarter), and offering science and technology classes in the evening, all of which provides additional options for learners.”
In adapting to student needs, Shoreline Community College has embraced hybrid classes, allowing for a mix of in-person and online instruction. Some classes meet in person once a week, while others follow a two-day-a-week format, providing students with options to suit their schedules.
The pandemic not only was hard on students enrolling, it also was challenging for staff as well. When asked how the increased enrollment has impacted morale, Chippi Bello, Dean of Access and Advising said, “People are really excited about seeing an increase in enrollment, and it is definitely a boost to our employees across the College. They enjoy seeing more students. It gives people hope and optimism about the work they are doing.”
As Shoreline Community College continues to experience growth in enrollment, the institution remains committed to providing accessible, quality education— inspiring lifelong learning, and empowering diverse learners with opportunities for career development that contributes to the enrichment of our community.
