College Relations and Marketing |
Released: 9/22/2009 - PDF Version - Printer Friendly
WAHPETON—(September 22, 2009) — Enrollment for fall semester at the North Dakota State College of Science stands at 2,651 students on the 20th instructional day of the semester, an increase of 106 students over fall 2008. The 2009 enrollment represents a 4.2 percent increase over last year’s headcount of 2,545. Since fall 2001, the college’s enrollment has increased by 359 students, or 15.7 percent.
Residence halls are becoming more popular among NDSCS students, represented by an 8 percent jump in occupancy in 2009 over 2008. Students are also increasingly signing up for the convenience of on-campus dining, with meal plan participation growing by 3.3 percent over 2008.
NDSCS President John Richman attributes the college’s growth to accessibility, one of the six cornerstones of the North Dakota Roundtable on Higher Education. “We are becoming more accessible to more students by creating on-ramps for students to start and re-start their education,” he said.
Several programs initiated over the past few years have helped NDSCS become more accessible and increase enrollment, including the Pathway program, Early College program, Journey worker Track, and credit for prior learning initiatives.
In addition, NDSCS implemented the Stay ‘N Save program in spring 2009 that gives returning students the option to retain their residence hall room and dining plan for the next year at the current year’s price—essentially freezing those costs.
“NDSCS is educating North Dakota’s workforce with flexible, affordable, world-class programs that enable students to be successful, life-long learners,” said Richman. “We will continue to seek creative ways to serve the state’s dynamic and ever-changing workforce.”
The 2009 NDSCS student body includes 1,590 full-time students and 1,061 part-time students. The number of women enrolled at NDSCS continues to rise, with 1,168 enrolled this fall.
The enrollment data shows NDSCS continues to do an exemplary job serving North Dakota students. NDSCS has registered students from 51 of the state’s 53 counties.
The total number of students from North Dakota (1,889) comprises more than 71 percent of the student body. Representation from neighboring states includes: Minnesota, 20 percent; South Dakota, 3 percent; and Montana, 2 percent.
Finally, NDSCS has students enrolled from 38 states other than North Dakota, three Canadian provinces, Armed Forces Europe, and five foreign countries.
NDSCS is a two-year, comprehensive, residential college with its main campus located in Wahpeton, N.D., and a second site, referred to as the Skills and Technology Training Center, located in Fargo, N.D. NDSCS offers degrees, certificates, and diplomas in over 80 academic options in traditional career and technical studies as well as the liberal arts. The college also offers a variety of Distance Education courses. Approximately 95% of graduates from its technical programs find jobs in their chosen fields.
Unlike most two-year colleges, NDSCS boasts a university atmosphere for its students, complete with residence halls, 35 affiliated clubs and organizations, music groups, theater productions, intercollegiate athletics, intramural athletics, and numerous social activities.
