BRCC sees record enrollment during COVID, looks to meet local workforce needs
Blue Ridge Community College has seen record enrollment in its credit/academic programs this fall, which President Laura Leatherwood attributed to a focus on recruiting adult learners into workforce development courses.
"Every single occupational sector is struggling for the workforce and we are very intentionally focused on ensuring that we get people into the workforce," Leatherwood said. "... We've never had higher enrollment than we have right now. We're doing exceptional."
Enrollment increased across the board by 9% to 2,607 students compared to fall 2020, according to Lee Anna Haney, BRCC marketing and communications director, which is the highest enrollment has jumped from fall to fall in the last 10 years. BRCC has seen a 22% increase in enrollment since 2017.
Registrations have also increased this semester in short-term continuing education courses including welding, machining and computer certifications.
The number of high school students and younger students enrolling at the college has decreased as the number of adults increases, so BRCC worked to recruit adults between the ages of 25 and 44 who are underemployed, unemployed or want to upskill, Leatherwood said.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an existing need for workers because of early retirements and people leaving the workforce for health reasons, to take care of their families or to homeschool their children.
"We also have an acceleration of technology and innovation during this period of time," Leatherwood said. "We know that when people are hired back, employers are going to expect a higher skill level."
BRCC, along with four other North Carolina community colleges, launched the "Better Skills. Better Jobs" outreach campaign to reconnect with students who were 50% done with a program of study or credential. That led to a 41% increase in adult students at BRCC this fall over the fall 2020 semester, Leatherwood said.
Typically, spikes in community college enrollment are an indicator of an economic recession – employees lose their jobs and there aren't as many jobs available so people go back to school. Leatherwood said it's hard to tell if that's the case right now.
"There's no playbook for what we've been through with regard to the pandemic," she said. "However, we're helping the community understand redefining what college means. Historically, going to college meant that every single student, in order to be successful, needs to go to a four-year university.
"That's not necessarily the case when we look at business and industry now and what the needs of our local economy are. ... The demand for training and education at our community colleges is more important than ever."
Examples of that are the high demand for plumbers, electricians and welders, Leatherwood added.
Less than a handful of North Carolina community colleges have experienced increased enrollment since the start of the pandemic, according to Haney. Full-time enrollment fell 10% across the North Carolina Community College System from the 2019-20 academic year to 2020-21, according to NCCCS data.
Looking ahead, to keep enrollment up, Leatherwood said BRCC will continue with the strategies that led to higher fall enrollment and will also focus on enrolling high school students that are set to graduate early. Haney said the focus is now on retention.
A new program that began in August provides students with success coaches and an app to stay connected. Two success coaches were hired with grant funding from Dogwood Health Trust. The coaches check in with students to see how they can help with classes, studying and more and to connect them with campus resources.
Lurah Lowery is the education and city government watchdog reporter for the Hendersonville Times-News, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at llowery@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @lurahlowery and Facebook.com/lurahjournalist.