Enrollment at Oxnard College Jumps 10%

Citing increased curriculum and advertising efforts, Oxnard College officials said Thursday that enrollment jumped 10% this spring semester compared with the same period last year.

Ventura County Community College District officials say they can’t remember when one of their three campuses, especially the smallest, has grown so much in one year. Moorpark College enrollment increased 5%, while Ventura College is up 3% during the same period.

“Things seem to be booming over here,” said Steven Arvizu, Oxnard College president.

Numbers taken throughout the week showed that 6,392 students had enrolled at Oxnard College. On the same day last year, there were 5,793 students.

Officials said their aggressive 18-month campaign to lure more students is finally paying off.

More academic programs in science and technology, and more teachers have made the campus more attractive, according to Arvizu. Other popular programs, such as the firefighter academy, have also been expanded.

Promoting the campus has been a top priority for college administrators. And when district advertising dollars came up short, administration officials looked elsewhere for money. The college was awarded a $25,000 private-sector grant that funded a slew of television, radio and newspaper advertisements.

“They’ve really made a significant effort to build their enrollment,” said Barbara Buttner, director of public affairs for the district. “They’ve obviously, at this point, been successful.”

The long-anticipated “baby boom echo” also seems to have arrived, officials said. That is, a wave of students--children of baby boomers--is expected to hit colleges and universities during the next decade. Higher-education institutions in California are expected to grow by 38%.

Officials also attribute the enrollment growth to Oxnard’s population growth.

In 1993, Oxnard’s population was 149,424. At the beginning of last year, it was 156,000.

“We’re . . . pulling out all the stops to accommodate the growth in the area,” said Joan Smith, dean of institutional services.

Anamarie Terronez began her first semester at Oxnard College this week. After graduating from Hueneme High School last spring, Terronez wasn’t sure when she would start college, so she spent the fall working.

But after Oxnard College faculty members talked to her about enrolling in school, Terronez decided to hit the books again. Now she’s got a full load of classes and is involved with student government.

“I started talking to teachers, and they really go out of their way to make sure your needs are met. I got all the classes I wanted,” the 18-year-old Oxnard resident said. “Everything’s falling in place.”

But for Kenisha Canty, who has taken classes at the south Oxnard campus for several semesters, the jammed parking lots and long lines have only been a hassle. In her English class alone, there are 30 students on the waiting list, she said.

“It seems like now when you register there are long lines, long waits,” said Canty, 20, of Oxnard. “Now, you have to get here extra early.”

Canty hopes she can get the handful of classes she’ll need to transfer to a four-year university to study education next year.

Arvizu said his staff members are working to reduce lines and meet all student needs.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, but it’s the kind of work we love to do. To put our students first,” he said. “We think this is part of a trend that is going to be with us for quite some time.”