UACCM Enrollment Nears 2,500; 24 Percent Increase Over Last Year!

UACCM reported an enrollment of 2,423 students for the fall 2009 semester on the 11th class day, the deadline for public institutions to report their enrollments to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education.

This represents an increase of 24 percent from the fall 2008 semester. The fall 2009 semester marks the third largest increase in enrollment in the 48-year history of the institution and the largest single-year increase experienced since 1997. Additionally, the fall 2009 semester marks the first time in UACCM history when more than 2000 credit students are enrolled. Since UACCM’s last year as a vocational technical school in 1990, overall enrollment has increased 662 percent, and has also seen an increase of 88 percent since merging with the University of Arkansas System in 2001.

Conway County students account for 22 percent of enrollment at UACCM. In addition, 39 percent from Faulkner County, 7 percent from Perry County, 17 percent from Pope County, 5 percent from Van Buren County, 5 percent from Yell County, and 5 percent from all other counties.

Of the 2,423 students, 41 percent are pursuing Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees, and 51 percent are enrolled in technical, business, health, and service-related occupational programs. The remaining 8 percent are non-degree seeking students, undeclared majors, and concurrently enrolled high school students.The Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) rate increased from 1,485 in the fall 2008 semester to 1,844 in the fall 2009 semester as well. A higher FTE rate means that students are taking more credit hours on average.

UACCM Director of Public Relations and Marketing Mary Clark said “We are extremely pleased with the increase in enrollment this semester, which echoes reports from many colleges all across the nation.” She added that “The economic downturn has convinced many members of the workforce to return to school to re-train, and the high quality of our programs and instructors, lower tuition costs, and personal attention they find at UACCM are helping make this an easy transition.” The significant increase in enrollment in recent years can also be attributed to an expansion in available programs of study at UACCM and an increased interest in programs focusing on some of the fastest growing industries in the state such as Petroleum Technology and Nursing.