PUHI — The Kaua‘i Community College opened its doors to nearly 1,300 students Monday, the first day of class for the spring semester. Earl Nishiguchi, KCC vice chancellor of student affairs, said unofficial counts from Monday’s traffic indicated 1,278 students,
PUHI — The Kaua‘i Community College opened its doors to nearly 1,300 students Monday, the first day of class for the spring semester.
Earl Nishiguchi, KCC vice chancellor of student affairs, said unofficial counts from Monday’s traffic indicated 1,278 students, an increase from the 1,254 students in the spring of 2012.
KCC was the only campus within the University of Hawai‘i community college system to show an increase in enrollment — 24 students over 2012, or an increase of 1.91 percent, according to the unofficial counts.
KCC also increased from 10,690 semester hours in 2012 to 10,703 semester hours shown Monday, or an increase of 13 semester hours leading to a .12 percent increase. It was one of only two campuses state-wide that had an increase, with Leeward CC showing an increase of just three semester hours, or a .01 percent increase.
The University of Hawai‘i community college system includes Hawai‘i CC on the Big Island, Honolulu CC, Kapi‘olani CC, Kaua‘i CC, Leeward CC, Maui CC and Windward CC.
The growth trend continues from the fall semester, when KCC broke the 1,500-student mark, bringing it back to pre-Hurricane ‘Iniki levels.
At a community forum Monday afternoon (see ‘Community discusses future of KCC’), KCC Chancellor Helen Cox said she was pleased with the increases discussing spring semester enrollment.
John Morton, Vice President of Community Colleges, acknowledged the positive gains, but he said Kaua‘i should be looking at a goal of attaining a 2,000-student enrollment.
Nishiguchi said final enrollment figures won’t be available until the end of late registration, which continues through 4:30 p.m., Friday.
“Students interested in enrollment can continue to enroll in classes for the rest of the week at the One Stop Shop from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,” he said.
Visit www.kauai.hawaii.edu for more information.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
