NWC Numbers Declining

Northwest College is hoping to reverse a decline in enrollment.
The number of students attending Northwest is down ten percent as compared to last fall, according to an article in the Powell Tribune. 1,525 students are enrolled this fall at Northwest – that’s 169 fewer than last year, and 30 percent below its top numbers almost ten years ago. At Monday’s board meeting, president Stefani Hicswa said that their staff plans what she called a “full-court press” to bring enrollment back up.
According to Hicswa, a number of factors have contributed to the decline, including lower graduation rates at area high schools, a higher number of students graduating from NWC, and a general decline in Wyoming community college enrollment. Additionally, she cited budget cuts and personnel leaving the college as contributing factors, along with the state’s economy.
Trustee John Housel pointed out that there may be a correlation between the increasing numbers of students at the University of Wyoming and the decrease in enrollment at NWC and other community colleges across the state. He indicated that it could be beneficial to the community colleges to form their own marketing campaign to entice more students to enroll locally.