Economics send more students to WCCC Enrollment up. But if growth continues, college may run out of room. Monday, September 25, 2006 • By SARA K. SATULLO • The Express-Times A 70 percent increase in Warren County Community College's enrollment over a six-year stretch is threatening to reignite a debate over expanding the college. Fueling the growth are changing attitudes about community colleges, school President Will Austin said, as more students recognize that a less expensive alternative is available. "In a society where a master's or medical or legal degrees is going to take many years of higher education, parents and kids are recognizing saving money for grad school now is a wise economic choice," Austin said. Austin also cited a new state program that reimburses tuition for students who graduate in the top 20 percent of their high school class. It's bringing in students who in the past might not have considered community college. The New Jersey Student Assistance Rewards Scholarship program began in fall 2004 with just 17 students at the college, rising up to 41 last year. This year's numbers aren't in yet, but Austin expects another increase. Jake Farbman, a spokesman for the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, said although statewide enrollment numbers aren't in, Warren's preliminary numbers were impressive. "I think the numbers are a testament to the terrific job Austin and the board of trustees are doing managing and maintaining affordable education and offering programs students in the community want," he said. While Austin welcomes the growth, he's run out of creative ways to maximize space. Space is maxed out as the year begins with professors using converted closets as offices. The college's enrollment has nearly doubled since 2000 and now stands at 1,715. If the college's growth continues as it has, it seems the only option will be expansion. From 1998 to 2003, the county and the college were embroiled in fierce lawsuits over expansion funding, which went to the state Supreme Court. The court ruled the college's Board of School Estimate could not force the county to pay for an expansion. After Austin became president in 2003, the school tried to meet changing student needs by expanding programs beyond its traditional liberal arts core. Austin said the nursing and law enforcement programs are the hot ones bringing in students. "In this particular region, law enforcement is a very desired program," he said. "If you look at everything that happened after 9/11, this field has gotten a lot of media attention and students are responding." Laurel Attanasio, the college's director of enrollment management, said there has been a 10 percent increase in full-time enrollment for this year, although part-time enrollment fell by 7 percent. "The economy is doing better and part-timers don't usually think about going back to school unless they really need more skills," she said. Austin said gas prices also play a role in the decline. "Higher education institutions compete against everything in a person's life. For a person working a full-time job and trying to make ends meet, gas prices affect their bottom line," he said. "Over a year it may be a couple hundred dollars but that is the price of our tuition." Reporter Sara K. Satullo can be reached at 908-475-2174 or by e-mail at ssatullo@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used with permission.