WNCC enrollment at Douglas on the rise

Western Nevada Community College, Douglas, is the only campus to show an increase in enrollment for the spring semester, Assistant Dean Mike Hardie said.

The apparent reason for the increase is the mass mailing of fliers detailing spring classes that were sent to boxholders in Minden and Gardnerville, he said. People enrolling in classes at the college are carrying in the fliers when they go to the WNCC office to sign up for classes.

"We're in the back of the schedule," Hardie said, "and people don't even know we're there. People think it's just a Carson schedule."

The WNCC schedules are mailed to all residents in the WNCC service area. Hardie said he hopes to expand the number of pages for the Douglas community service and College for Kids classes in upcoming schedules to make Carson Valley residents more aware of the programs.

The main campus in Carson City reported no growth this semester, while the Fallon campus reported a drop of 4 percent and Yerington and Fernley's enrollments dropped 15 percent.

Programs in two rural areas fared better, with Hawthorne and Lovelock reporting an 18 percent increase in full-time enrollment equivalents. Hawthorne's full-time student numbers rose from 22 to 26 and Lovelock's, 17 to 20.

Douglas County's full-time student numbers for the spring semester stands at 188. Most students attend the college part-time, so the number of students actually attending classes is much higher. Full-time equivalent is rated at 15 credit hours, Hardie said.