Increase of 78 students over 2016; Wills says recruiting not a focus for the College until about two years ago. Says nothing about new Sedona program or efforts by Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee in re marketing begun three years ago

 Tom Hughes, Director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Research, reported to the Yavapai Community College  Governing Board on November 14 that fall enrollment had increased slightly in the district. There was a 1.1% increase in student headcount over 2016 and a .3% increase in the fall time student equivalents data.

President Penelope Wills attributed the increase to new recruiting efforts.  Wills said the College had not focused on recruitment until about two years ago.   (Wills did not mention the efforts by the Verde Valley Board Advisory Committee’s work  begun about three years ago and the Committee’s alarm at the low level of recruiting activity by the College.)

Also not discussed by Wills as a reason for the slight enrollment increase in headcount is the  opening the Sedona Center culinary Institute. At least 70 students were enrolled this fall in that program. Regardless of the reasons for the increase, this was good news for the Community College as there are indications that some similar institutions in the State are experiencing a decline in enrollment.

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