Enrollment for Spring to Open at Pierce

Heartened by a slight increase in the number of applications for the fall semester, Pierce College officials will open the application period for the spring semester next Tuesday.

Two weeks ago, several California State University campuses stopped accepting applications before their published deadlines.

Pierce College President E. Bing Inocencio said he is confident that many of the students who might have applied to nearby Cal State Northridge will take a look at Pierce.

“Theoretically it should help us because there are people who won’t have a place to go,” he said.

Although Pierce saw an increase in applications for the fall semester, enrollment remained steady at nearly 14,000.

“The increase in applications did give us some hope for new students,” said Shelley Gerstl, associate dean of admissions and records. “But the final enrollment didn’t bear that out.”

Inocencio said some of those students who applied and did not enroll were probably accepted by CSUN.

In the past several years, enrollment at the school--which peaked at more than 23,000--has declined or remained steady, and the president said his main mission is to reverse that trend.

Application forms are available from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays at the admissions office, 6201 Winnetka Ave., beginning Tuesday. Enrollment fees are $13 per unit for California residents.

To obtain an application form by mail, call (818) 719-6404.