A-B Tech Community College Kicks Off Fall Semester with Record Enrollment

August 22, 2012

A-B Tech Community College set a record for fall enrollment Monday, with nearly 7,800 credit students signed up for class.

The first day of the semester showed 7,796 students enrolled in classes leading to degrees, diplomas or certificates – compared to 7,515 at the same time last year, for a 3.7 percent increase. By Tuesday, the College’s headcount had reached nearly 8,000 as students continued to register for classes with later start dates.

A-B Tech President Hank Dunn attributed the nearly 4 percent enrollment increase to the College’s flexible classes, affordable tuition, and quality education. “More and more people are recognizing that A-B Tech is a smart choice for higher education, whether they are looking for career training or planning to start here before transferring to a four-year university,” he said. 

“Our recent ranking as one of only 16 exceptional community colleges in the state is evidence of the quality of instruction our faculty provide. And, students can graduate with a two-year degree for about $6,000, a fraction of the cost at four-year public and private colleges and universities.”

New programs in such areas as building construction science and pharmacy technology also have added to the College’s popularity, according to Dunn. “The secret to being a good community college is finding the community’s needs and meeting them. We think we do that by offering programs that prepare students to get good jobs right here at home.”

Classes are still being added to the fall semester in shortened formats known as minimesters. These classes run either four weeks or eight weeks in length, and provide the same credit as traditional 16-week classes. Minimesters are popular among students who are pressed for time or have difficulty juggling multiple classes. They also are a good option for university-bound students because of the variety of transfer classes available. 

Start dates for four-week classes are Sept. 18, Oct. 17 and Nov. 14. New eight-week classes begin Oct. 17. To learn more about flexible class schedules or to register for minimester classes, visit abtech.edu or call 254-1921.