College classes offered until 2:30 am?  What?  Who ever heard of such a thing?  According to officials at some community colleges across the country, it is necessary to meet the demand of the new college student.  With enrollments up this fall of over 30%, they say getting creative with scheduling is one way to meet the challenge. 

A recent article published by Newsday.com highlights several reasons why enrollments are jumping in record numbers.  Driven by a poor economy, traditional students are staying closer to home and opting for the more affordable community college tuition versus state and private universities, which in some cases can cost 5-6 times more.  Single income families are looking for ways to increase earning power by completing degrees or learning new skills.  Some individuals simply have more time on their hands from a recent layoff and are looking for ways to actively affect their future in a positive way.

Larger enrollments generally mean higher revenue but in this case it is causing a strain on many schools.  Coordinating course offerings, hiring teachers, and advising students is a process that requires careful planning and human capital.  It is difficult to pull this process off on the fly with little preparation.  Estimating number of enrollments with this unprecedented growth is difficult to do.  To make matters worse, traditionally some students at community colleges tend to wait until the last minute to register causing even more unpredictability about handling the load.

The fact that some schools may have to turn students away for the first time ever is a sobering thought.  One that is creating a controlled chaos to try and rise to the occasion.  As schools begin to expand their online offerings out of shear necessity businesses like eLearningToolBox who specialize in providing tools that make elearning better will be waiting in the wings to assist these schools in proper planning.  Now is the time for schools to embrace non traditional learning environments and aide students to personal path learning.  A path that includes access to education to all regardless of age, demographic, or financial status.

Weak Economy = Record Number Enrollments for Community Colleges