Chamber News

Patrick Henry Community College officials reflect on new enrollment trend

The college’s academic enrollment for this fall reflect an 8% gain over last year’s count. This means that 2,300 students are taking more than 25,000 credit hours. Including workforce enrollment, college officials say that PHCC is on pace to eclipse more than 5,000 total students served for 2018-19. Read more in full story....

PHCC officials reflect on new enrollment trend

MARTINSVILLE, VA – On Monday, officials at Patrick Henry Community College announced good news at their College Board Meeting. The college’s enrollment numbers are looking good – very good.

At the beginning of the calendar year, college officials recall being concerned about enrollment numbers. When setting their forecasted budget, they wagered low.

Defying the national statistics and the continued population decline of the college’s service region, PHCC’s actual enrollment numbers this year bucked the trend. The college’s academic enrollment for this fall reflect an 8% gain over last year’s count. This means that 2,300 students are taking more than 25,000 credit hours. Including workforce enrollment, college officials say that PHCC is on pace to eclipse more than 5,000 total students served for 2018-19.

“This is the first time in seven years that fall-to-fall enrollment has trended upward,” says Hodges. “It is a pleasant and exciting surprise.”

The upward trend for the college began this summer with the enrollment rocketing past the previous year’s summer enrollment by 24%. Summer 2018’s enrollment gains were the highest the college has seen since 2013. Among the community colleges in Virginia, PHCC had the highest one-year summer enrollment increase in the state. The next closest institution had an increase of just over 10%.

What caused PHCC’s numbers to do a 180-degree turn and start heading uphill? College officials say  that the academic enrollment derived from the new Harvest SEED program is a major factor in the total increase seen for both the summer and fall semesters.

PHCC’s workforce division has also experienced growth. Workforce programs include both customized and short-term training options for local companies to deliver industry-recognized credentials. These programs prepare graduates for high demand jobs like commercial truck driving, medical assisting, and phlebotomy.

“We hope this trend, along with recent economic development announcements, forecasts the beginning of a new economic boom,” says Hodges. “People are realizing that many of the job openings in our community that lead to family-sustaining, fulfilling careers require either one of our academic degrees or one of our workforce credentials. Perhaps a rising trend in the region’s economic recovery and this upward trend in PHCC’s enrollment suggests the region is on the path to a very bright future.”