Demand For What Illinois Community Colleges Offer Remains High

Springfield—Illinois community colleges continue to experience high enrollments for the fall 2011 semester, according a report released today by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).

Both headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollments were at their third highest level in more than 25 years, registering nearly 372,000 students statewide and well above the average fall enrollment over the past five years. FTE figures reflect the total number of credit hours being taken by students divided by 15, which is the number of semester hours traditionally considered a full-time class load.

“The numbers do not surprise us,” said Geoffrey Obrzut, president and chief executive officer of the ICCB. “We hear constantly how our colleges are working to accommodate the demand for coursework and classroom space.”

These latest figures, combined with the recent record number of degree and certificate completions reported by the ICCB in its annual Enrollments and Completions Report, show that Illinois community colleges are not only attracting more students but also retaining them through the conclusion of the students’ programs, according to Obrzut.

“These enrollment figures continue to demonstrate that people in Illinois recognize the value and importance of the coursework and programs offered by community colleges across the state,” said Alexi Giannoulias, chairman of the ICCB.

The full report is available on the ICCB’s website: www.iccb.org.

The ICCB is the state coordinating board for community colleges. Illinois is home to 48 community colleges in 39 districts and has the third largest community college system enrollment in the nation.