Summer 2001

Volume 3 Number 3
A publication of Macon State College

Temperatures and Enrollment Rise At MSC During Summer

By Renee Pearman

Macon State College has experienced a 57 percent increase in its summer enrollment in the past three years, and the number of students taking classes at the college's Warner Robins Center has more than doubled in that same period.

Combined summer enrollment at the Macon campus, Warner Robins Center and Robins Resident Center totaled 2,846, an increase of 1,031 students from the 1998 summer term. The number of students at the Warner Robins Center this summer was 662 compared to 318 in summer 1998.

MSC's summer growth has been significant for several reasons, according to Dr. J. Thomas Isherwood, vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the faculty. "We have a general increase in enrollment because there is a growing interest in our baccalaureate degree programs," he said. "Also, students of other institutions coming home for the summer to Macon now have options to take courses in the core and in upper division areas in support of their major."

The dramatic increase in enrollment at the Warner Robins Center is attributed to the addition of core courses offered there combined with the introduction last year of the bachelor's degree program in information technology at WRC.

Traditionally, enrollment for summer term is down from fall and spring semesters at all colleges and universities because students tend to take time off from studies to work and/or enjoy some leisure time.

"It is not unusual at many institutions, particularly residential campuses, for summer enrollment to be 15-20 percent of fall enrollment,"
Isherwood said. "At Macon State, we tend to do much better. We are basically a commuter campus with a large part-time student enrollment. Many of these students enroll year round. For them, summer is no different than any other term."