Enrollment

We are extremely happy with our increased enrollment this fall. Following is an article that appeared in the Marshall News Messenger on September 19, 2009:

Texas State Technical College-Marshall has set a new student enrollment record.

School officials say a total of 973 students have registered at the college this fall semester. TSTC Dean of Enrollment Management Suzanne Carter said 946 students were enrolled on campus last year.

Of the students who registered for classes beginning Aug. 31, 252 were new students, 464 were returning students and 257 were dual-credit students.

Ms. Carter said the institution has seen a 20 percent increase in new degree and certificate students and a 24 percent increase in returning students.

"Our labs, classrooms and parking lots are full and we have seen a significant increase in students living on campus," said Ms. Carter.

Although enrollment numbers increased by 27 students from last fall, the change falls short of the enrollment numbers Ms. Carter had predicted in the summer.

Ms. Carter said previously she felt student enrollment could possibly exceed 1,000.

Ms. Carter said there were a number of contributing factors to the rise in enrollment, including the current job market and unemployment rate, an increase in the amount of funds from the Pell Grant and "expanded recruitment territories with increased emphasis on career and technology students in high schools and dual credit" programs.

Expounding on the impact of the Pell Grant, Ms. Carter said the increase has allowed students to be less dependent on student loans as they are able to use more of the money to pay for student costs such tuition, fees, books, school supplies and campus housing.

Ms. Carter said, in addition, the college has seen a rise in the number of unemployed workers enrolled at the school, meaning more students have been eligible to receive educational benefits from the Workforce Investment Act and Trade Adjustment Assistance programs — two federally funded programs for displaced workers. The funds are administered through local workforce enters.

Ms. Carter said laid-off workers from such companies as General Motors in Shreveport, La., U.S. Steel in Lone Star and Dana Corporation in Longview currently are enrolled at TSTC.