Fall classes begin with nearly 13,000 students enrolled

With fall classes beginning today, enrollment at Ozarks Technical Community College has increased once again.  A total of 12,902 students are enrolled this fall, 15.5% percent higher than the fall of 2008.  The most significant growth is at the College’s Waynesville Education Center, which is showing an increase of more than 64%, with 209 students enrolled.  Enrollment is up by more than 10% at the Springfield campus, with 8,887 students taking classes this fall.

“The demand for courses and training in Springfield is obviously there,” explained Dr. Hal Higdon, president of Ozarks Technical Community College.  “While we still have room for plenty of growth at Richwood Valley and our Education Centers, the Springfield campus is definitely experiencing capacity issues.  In order to meet the demand and continue to grow, we will soon need to find more space.”

The Richwood Valley campus has 1,096 students enrolled, an increase of more than 28%.  An additional 309 students are taking courses at both the Springfield and Richwood Valley locations, up more than 36% from the fall of 2008.  Online enrollment is up more than 33%, with 1,505 students taking the majority of their classes online.  The Lebanon Education Center is up by nearly 15%, with 475 students enrolled.  The College’s Branson Education Center is serving 421 students this semester, up nearly 14% from last fall.