CTC ranked one of country’s fastest-growing two-year colleges

August 25, 2015

Chattahoochee Technical College has been named to a national Top 20 list.

The eight-campus college recently was recognized for the first time by The Chronicle of Higher Education as being the country’s 13th fastest-growing two-year public institution between 2003 and 2013.

The publication’s 2015-16 almanac, released this month, showed the Top 20 fastest-growing public and private nonprofit doctoral institutions, public and private nonprofit master’s institutions, private baccalaureate institutions and public associate-degree institutions, using data gathered and analyzed by the U.S. Department of Education.

In 2003, CTC’s fall semester enrollment was 3,711, according to the almanac. By 2013, it had almost tripled to 10,470, an increase of 6,759 students or 182.1 percent.

“Being on this list is simply a reflection of the work we have been doing in the communities we serve and our mission to provide quality and affordable education to Georgia residents,” said Jennifer Nelson, vice president for external affairs. “It makes sense that communities would be accepting of our model, and that interest would only grow as there became a negative job outlook in the state and across the country. In addition, our partnerships with local businesses and industries have been integral to building our student population.”

“Being featured [in The Chronicle of Higher Education] is a testament to our success of providing access to world-class education resources to the communities we serve,” Executive Vice President Trina Boteler said. “During those 10 years, Chattahoochee Technical College has undergone a merger, added programs and upgraded facilities. We have listened to the demand set forth by our business community for programs that teach the skills needed to fill jobs and to the input from our students asking to provide more areas to study, complete assignments and to better meet the needs of a growing and evolving student population.”

President Dr. Ron Newcomb said a “combination of factors” led to the enrollment increase during that 10-year span.

“Attending a technical college is one of the greatest values in higher education and was a factor that led recent high school graduates, and others, to take core classes at the college,” he said. “Many of those students would then transfer to a four-year institution. Later in the decade and from 2010 to 2013, the economy went through a downturn. Many displaced workers were looking for an affordable education to help them learn a new set of skills to find a new job or to keep their current position.”

Making career education more easily accessible also contributed to the growth of the college, especially during the economic downturn, Newcomb said.

“Expanding our online offerings, for example, has attributed to our growing student population,” he said. “This makes it possible for more students to go to college on their schedule and helps us keep students on a path toward graduation.”

Boteler said it’s “exciting” to see the success and growth of technical colleges and other two-year programs being recognized nationally.

“The tide is beginning to turn in the minds of many leaders in that technical education is just as important to the business world as a traditional four-year degree,” she said. “A skills gap exists between what businesses and industries are looking for in an employee and the skills that are possessed by many current and potential employees. Chattahoochee Tech helps bridge that gap by offering programs in high-demand industries.

“In addition, Chattahoochee strives to engage all demographics through programs such as Move On When Ready for high school students aiming to simultaneously gain high school and college credit or the Green Zone training initiative, which helps Chattahoochee Tech faculty and staff members better understand and support our student veterans and their family members. Our online courses and large number of campuses also create more convenient opportunities for those who have always wanted to go to college.”

CTC originally was listed at No. 14 in the almanac but moved up one spot after an error was found, according to The Chronicle’s website.

The original list showed Ivy Tech Community College-Central Indiana as the No. 1 associate-degree institution; however, it appeared to have grown more than it had because it changed from reporting enrollment region by region to reporting the whole system as one figure.

The school dropped out of the Top 20 altogether and was replaced at No. 1 by River Parishes Community College in Gonzales, Louisiana.

Data were based on a fall semester head count of full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students, and the Top 20 lists included only U.S. degree-granting institutions with at least 500 students in 2003.

All of the Top 20 two-year public institutions at least doubled their enrollment over the 10-year span.

Article written by Donna Harris, Daily Tribune News.