Audited unduplicated data shows continual slide in enrollment; slide to continue
Yavapai Community College now (August 20, 2016) has 6,000 fewer students taking credit courses of any kind for credit than it did ten years ago. This is according to the data provided by the College for the academic years 2006 thru 2015/2016. All of the data has been audited with the exception of the figure for 2015/16.
The drop has occurred despite the addition of on-line courses and an increase in dual enrollment courses. Using those additions, and anything else the College could label a credit offering to boost the enrollment count, the decline remains over 6,000 fewer students than ten years ago.
One of the explanations for the decline, according to the College, is related to the recession. It claims that more students take courses during a recession. Then, when the recession is over, the number declines.
The audited headcount data from the College does not support the College’s recession claim. It shows a steady decline in the actual number of students taking credit courses beginning in 2006, before the recession, with the decline continuing through the recession up to the present time.
As noted above, the chart below is based entirely on audited College data, with the exception of the past year’s data, which has yet to be audited. The College anticipates the slide will continue this year. Watch out for the College spin masters on this issue.
The Verde Independent in an article dated August 18 (click here to read the article) quoted Yavapai College as explaining the decline in enrollment as follows: “Most of the decline in on-campus credit enrollments, says Hughes, “is the result of students migrating to on-line courses, not students exiting the college. Other factors impacting declining credit enrollment include an improving job outlook, and more community education and OLLI opportunities for personal interest students.”
As noted above, the total audited headcount included all students who were taking online, traditional in-class courses and any hybrid classes. Moreover, OLLI is a program for persons 55 years old or more and OLLI is completely independent of the College Administration and control. It is an independent 501(c)(3) organization created by a $2 million dollar grant to the College that pays for its independent operation. It has its own governing committee that handles finances, curriculum, and other issues. Its faculty are not paid and it charges a fee for several of its programs to help support its independent operation.