Enrollment Rises at Union County College

Summer classes right now are in full swing at Union County College, along with general enrollment.

Over the last five years, there has been about a 23 percent increase in the number of full-time students enrolled in state community college overall, Jacob C. Farbman said, communications director for New Jersey Council of County Colleges. 

Union County College has increased by 1,500 total students since 2004, according to the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education Web site. The NJCHE collects statistics reported by county colleges each year. 

Increasing numbers are providing new challenges to the schools, as more students put more weight on the college's resources including staff and facilities.

"We are doing our best to accommodate all of the students by offering as many sections of different courses as possible," Nicole Torella said, manager of publications and communications at UCC.

She said online classes have helped, as they do not require the space of the classroom and the school has hired additional adjunct professors, to lighten the workload of the full time staff.

 A total of 12,751 students were enrolled in 2009, up from 11,058 in 2004, with 6,338 students attending full time and 6,413 students attending part-time.

One type of pupil in particular is increasing at the school.

"We've seen a number of traditional students," Farbman said. Traditional students are those who attend full-time right after graduating high school. In the fall of 2004, there were just over 5,300 traditional full-time students attending UCC. By 2009, that number had increased to more than 6,300.

Affordability remains a key factor in many students' decision to attend a community college, Farbman said. 

For the 2009/2010 school year tuition and fees per year, came out to under $4,000 for a full-time student. UCC has more than 75 programs of study on four campuses, including one right in Cranford.

Along with affordability, Farbman also credits the NJ Stars program for getting more students interested in attending community college.

"There's more enthusiasm," Farbman said.

The NJ Stars program is a merit-based scholarship for students who graduate in the top 15 percent of their high school class. Students receive free tuition at any of the states community colleges, Farbman said.