Glendale College Rides Growth Wave

Glendale Community College posted one of the largest enrollment gains among California’s two-year colleges this fall, reaching a six-year peak of nearly 15,000 students.

The number of students on campus, even with more still registering, grew 8.5% between last September and this month, more than doubling the 3% to 4% overall growth projected for the state’s community colleges, local and state officials said.

The increase to 14,948 came even as enrollment at the nine-campus Los Angeles Community College District--the state’s largest--fell by 5.5%, to about 102,000 students.

Glendale officials estimate that 45% of the college’s students live within the Los Angeles district.

“Glendale Community College is obviously excelling at increasing access to higher education in the communities that the campus serves,” said Kyle Orr, a spokesman for the chancellor’s office of the California Community Colleges.

Orr said the state could not rank Glendale’s growth against California’s other 105 community colleges because enrollment figures are still being tabulated. But he said Glendale’s gains are among the highest reported to date.

The Ventura County Community College District was slightly higher, with 9% growth at its three campuses over the past year. More than 30,500 students are enrolled at the campuses this year.

Glendale administrators said the campus is growing, in part, because of the low cost of tuition at community colleges--$12 per unit, compared with about $1,000 a semester at state universities--and the influx of students from the neighboring Los Angeles district.

The administrators also cite new programs geared to a diverse student body.

For instance, an animation program begun last spring offers classes for beginning students who want to learn the trade as well as industry professionals who want to polish their skills. Administrators say the program is drawing a devoted following because the college is so near to movie studios and animation houses.

Another program that began last fall enables working adults to earn enough credits at night and on weekends to transfer to four-year universities. The program opened with 80 students and has grown to 240 this fall.

A third program, called the First Year Experience program, focuses on the needs of low-income students who are the first in their families to attend college. The students take classes together, receive college counseling and courses to boost study skills.

“I think there is a recognition by Glendale faculty and administration that education needs are rapidly changing,” said Christopher McCarthy, executive vice president of instructional services at the college. “People are looking for relevant education that has direct ties to their lives.”

Faculty members say the programs and new facilities have raised the college’s visibility. The campus recently opened new animation, computer and biology labs.

“We’re growing. We’re excited,” said Veloris Lang, dean of letters, arts and sciences. “The campus is so energized.”

Several students said they were attracted by the many offerings and the affordability.

George Vartanian, 18, says he was drawn to the First Year Experience program because of the individual attention it offers.

Vartanian, who began the program during the summer session, is taking a student development class where he is learning what to do in college and how to eventually transfer to a four-year university. He meets with a counselor regularly, and along with nearly 100 classmates enjoys a student lounge just for those in the program.

“Without the FYE program without my FYE counselor, I’d be lost,” said Vartanian, who graduated from Hoover High School in Glendale last spring. “If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know where I’d be. Probably taking classes I don’t need.”

College officials said part of their success comes from aggressive recruitment. For the First Year Experience program, recruiters visit area high schools and phone students at home. They also pitch the campus to potential students in television advertisements and in high school newspapers and yearbooks.

“We have a beautiful campus,” Lang said. “We have state-of-the-art facilities and technology that very few other community colleges can come close to.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

More Students

This semester, enrollment at Glendale Community College reached its highest mark since 1992, when enrollment was 15,054. The campus has grown to 14,948 students, and more are expected to register.

Source: Glendale Community College.