PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Jeff Weaver, Melony Ritter
(501) 760.6410 office
press@np.edu
September 1, 2016
NPC ANNOUNCES 3 PERCENT GROWTH IN COLLEGE ENROLLMENT
Hot Springs, Arkansas – National Park College (NPC) announced official fall enrollment Thursday. Enrollment for degree-seeking college students is up 3.01 percent this fall over last year.
Last year the College reported 2,153 degree seeking students. This year they currently have 2,218 college students, an increase of 65 students. Preliminary numbers show that full-time equivalent (FTE) for college students is up approximately 9.5 percent, from 1,626 last year to 1,797 currently. Dr. Jerry Thomas, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services said, “We are excited to see that more college students are taking more hours and decreasing time to degree. Our students recognize the value NPC offers through lower tuition, expanded transfer options, and a traditional college experience closer to home.”
National Park Technology Center (NPTC) programs are serving 575 students, down 43 students over last year. NPTC Director, Mike Wiles says he attributes the decline to conflicts with new scheduling at a number of the high schools. The Adult Basic Education program has served 520 students since July 1, consistent with numbers last year at this time. Community and Corporate Training programs have logged 11,053 contact hours since July 1.
High school concurrent enrollment numbers are still fluctuating. As of Thursday, there are 669 students, a 22 percent decrease from last year. The decrease is due to tightened regulations on instructor credentials by the regional accreditation body.
Dr. John Hogan, NPC president said he is extremely proud of the work the campus is doing to attract more students and increase degree attainment. “We have a dedicated team of professionals here at NPC and have undergone a significant amount of change this year to help position the College to better serve our students. We took a conservative approach to our budget and revised our organizational structure. We prioritized student services and transfer programs, expanded scholarship opportunities and we set our goals to align with the things that matter most – degree completion and student success. Considering enrollments across the country have trended down and with low unemployment rates, I believe NPC has defied the odds. I am happy to see our efforts are paying off. The results will be a more skilled workforce for Garland County.”
