The trend of enrollment at Northwestern Michigan College in the past five fall and spring semesters mirrors the unemployment rate. When unemployment increases, enrollment at community colleges increases (including NMC) as students seek education to enhance their current skills or pursue different careers. Student enrollment began increasing related to unemployment in SP2009 and then peaked at the height of the recession in 2010-2011. During this time NMC experienced the highest enrollment in our history, with 5,440 students in FA2010 and 5,194 students in SP2011. Since that time enrollment is returning to levels prior to the recession. Current student enrollment is similar to the enrollment during 2007-2008.
The local area high school graduate population reached a high of 2,579 graduates in 2006 and has been declining since that time to 2,108 students in 2013. NMC has responded to this decline by increasing high school admissions and financial aid presentations as well as revising the campus visit program. In addition, the Admissions and Financial Aid offices have lowered the response time to student requests for information and standard communication. Recently, software was purchased, implemented and training is in process to enhance recruiting efforts.
We continue to promote options for high school students that are proven pathways for successful college completion such as Dual Enrollment, Early College and Concurrent Enrollment with area high schools in TBAISD, Manufacturing Technology Academy (TBAISD), Grand Traverse Academy, Suttons Bay and TCAPS.
NMC Count Day for SP2014 is January 20, 2014 and the Registrar will provide a comprehensive Enrollment Report later that week.