A new record has been set in spring enrollment at Northwest Mississippi Community College.  Spring Semester 2008 enrollment reached an all-time high with 6,957 students at all campus locations— an overall increase of 571 students.

The college also reports that more students are attending full time, according to figures released today by the college’s Office of Institutional Research and Planning.  The number of full time students at Northwest grew by 643 students.

This year on Northwest’s main campus in Senatobia 2,787 students registered for classes, compared with 2,637 the same period last year.  At DeSoto Center, a record 2,969 students registered for classes. That figure is up from the 2,638 who registered last spring.

At Lafayette-Yalobusha Technical Center in Oxford, where construction is underway for a new addition housing additional classrooms and faculty offices, there is more growth. This spring, 1,201 students registered compared to 1,111 in spring ’08.

More students are taking advantage of the convenience of Northwest’s online classes.  A total of 2,208 students enrolled in at least one online class this spring. That number compares to 1,761 in spring ’08.

“I am thankful that the students in our area have chosen Northwest,”
said Dr. Gary Lee Spears, Northwest president.  “We have traditional students who have recently graduated from high school, non-traditional students who are seeking a new or second career, and students who have lost jobs and are here for retraining.”

One student who is headed down a new career path is Nick Sosebee, 28, of Olive Branch. Sosebee, originally from Indianola, had worked at various jobs that ranged from being a musician in a band to working at the Gibson Guitar Company in Memphis.

“I decided it was time to get my life in order,” said Sosebee, who is now working on two degrees at Northwest—drafting and design technology and civil technology. “I can’t tell you how much help I’ve gotten—in counseling, in finding the right program—everyone has been wonderful.”

Sosebee will complete the civil technology degree this fall and the drafting and design degree in May, 2010. “My dream job would be to work in a government agency like the Corps of Engineers or the Forestry Service. I think those goals are reachable.”

“The time is right for taking online classes,” according to Phyllis Johnson, director of the college’s eLearning Division. “Northwest is equipped to offer the best in this type of class delivery. Our instructors receive training through seminars, conferences and in- house workshops.”

According to Johnson, many instructors at the college are taking advantage of new software—Wimba through Blackboard—that allows for voice recording online. Instructors are also beginning to utilize podcasting to record their lectures, and instant messaging in the online class is taking off. Johnson says she is using it now in the Human Growth and Development class that she teaches.

“Once again we are so pleased with our enrollment numbers,” said Larry Simpson, dean of Enrollment Management and Registrar. “This number strengthens our feeling that the community college system in Mississippi is the best value for the dollar. It also shows a continued belief on the part of our students that they will receive a quality education here at Northwest.”

Northwest is a two-year, public community college offering academic courses for transfer and career and technical classes, non-credit classes in Continuing Education and training programs through its Workforce Division.

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