Hinds Community College is expected to surpass serving 25,000 people, a record for the college, as enrollment continues to climb.

The number of students registering for fall credit classes has exceeded 11,000 for the first time in the college's history and is rapidly approaching 12,000. "The total number of individuals being served by the college is actually much larger," said Dr. Clyde Muse, president.  

Beyond credit courses for freshmen and sophomore college students, the college also enrolls about 5,000 individuals in high school career programs, adult basic education and workforce training at its six locations, Muse said.

"Last year, the college served nearly 25,000 different individuals in both credit and non-credit programs," Muse said.

Classes started Monday but late registration continues through Friday.

"Students choose Hinds for a variety of reasons such as affordable tuition, great instructors and a great reputation, but this year the economy and our convenient locations seem to be playing a major role in the decision making process," said Dr. Jay Allen, dean of Enrollment Services. "Hinds offers the traditional-aged college student the true collegiate experience, while the adult student will find convenient class times and a broad selection of programs."

District wide, credit enrollment is up 13.8 percent, or 1,600 students. The largest increases are at the Raymond Campus, 549 students, or 12.2 percent, and the Rankin Campus, more than 400 students, or a 15.4 percent increase.

Online class enrollment is up sharply. The number of students taking a mix of classes on site and online is up nearly 19 percent, from about 1,300 last year to more than 1,600 this year. That allows students the flexibility to create their own schedules when classes they want are already full.

Jennifer Price, 29, of Jackson, a mother of two, said she was nervous coming back to college. She is working on her prerequisites for nursing. She came to Hinds because "I've talked to a lot of people who said it was great. You get a really good education."

John Reed, 19, of Vicksburg, is a graphic design major. "It's the only school (locally) that has my program," he said. "It was close to home, and it was inexpensive."

In the current economy, affordable tuition cost is more important than ever, Allen said. Hinds Community College hasn't raised tuition in five years.

Another graphic design major, Stephanie Penton, 18, of Flowood chose Hinds for similar reasons. "And the classes are pretty small, which I like," she said. "I think I'm going to have a really good time."

Katy Prince, 24, of Byram is majoring in elementary education. She plans to move on to the Delta State University program through the 2 plus 2 partnership when she finishes her first two years. That partnership allows elementary education majors to get their bachelor's at DSU through Hinds.

"I've always wanted to come back. I've always wanted to be a teacher," she said. "I live right around here. It's close and I do think that (the 2 plus 2) is a good program. It kept me from having to move off."

College officials have been preparing for weeks for record numbers:

• On Friday alone, 439 credit students registered compared to 280 students this time last year.
• As of Monday, the Financial Aid office fielded more than 15,000 reports generated from the Free Application for Student Financial Aid applications. That compares to about 11,000 this time last year.
• Admissions received 3,000 more new student applications for fall as compared to last fall.

To accommodate the increased numbers, the college began extended hours in key offices last week.

That will continue through Friday, Aug. 21. The hours on Tuesday-Thursday are 8:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and on Fridays, 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. for counseling, admissions, financial aid, housing and business offices.  Bookstore hours at all locations are also being extended; students should check with the specific location for hours.

More courses are being added in the afternoons and evenings.

"We have added many classes in the early afternoon and in the evening," said Gary Fox, academic dean on the Rankin Campus. "Too, we have filled classrooms to their maximum capacity in the morning classes, adding more desks and/or tables and chairs as needed. We added sections until there was no more room to have them."

The Raymond Campus has also been adding sections of key classes, such as speech, in the afternoons and evenings.

Jeremy Smith, dean of career-technical programs on the Raymond Campus, said he's adding sections of a welding hybrid program at night. Hybrid programs are typically a blend of online and face-to-face instruction.

When classes were filling and more students wanted to enroll, "we realized we needed to do something different," Smith said. "We then began offering credit welding and cutting technology night classes through hybrid delivery."
 
The college also has an increase in number of adults enrolling in Adult Basic Education and GED preparation classes, which also started on Aug. 17.  College officials report that there is a waiting list for the next round of ABE classes which begin in October.

"It is clear to us that people turn to their local community college to gain the skills and qualifications that will help their circumstances and families. The unprecedented leaps in enrollment in all areas of the college are a strong indication of the value community colleges offer," Muse said.