JACKSON and JOSEPHINE counties (Nov. 19, 2024) – On Friday, Nov. 15, Oregon’s Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) reported significant growth in overall student headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment, according to fourth-week enrollment data at community colleges statewide. Rogue Community College (RCC) shares in celebrating this trend, with promising increases in its own enrollment figures.
RCC has seen more than a 14 percent increase in FTE enrollment for the 2024 fall term compared to the same period last year, alongside a nearly 10 percent increase in headcount. Leadership at the college says this upward trajectory reflects RCC’s commitment to creating pathways to success for its students and aligns with the state and national trend of rising enrollment in community colleges.
“These enrollment gains are a testament to the dedication of our faculty and staff who have embraced strategic initiatives to stabilize enrollment, improve student success and strengthen partnerships with our community,” said RCC President Randy Weber. “This progress reflects our mission to provide exemplary education and workforce opportunities that meet the needs of Southern Oregon.”
According to the HECC, the overall college headcount during the fourth week of the fall term was 4.3 percent higher this year than in 2023 (90,961 students). The number of FTE increased by 7 percent (21,897). While enrollment continues to trend upward, it remains below pre-pandemic levels statewide, with statewide headcount still 17.6 percent lower than fall 2019 and FTE down 14.2 percent. Comparatively, at RCC, the decrease in headcount is consistent with the state, however recent strategies have resulted in FTE returning to 2019 numbers.
RCC’s growth the past three years has consistently outpaced the state average. The college’s 30.7 percent increase in fall headcount from 3,973 in 2021 to 5,197 in 2024, and 42.7 percent increase in FTE from 887.7 to 1,267.6, are more than triple the state averages.
RCC’s Dean of Enrollment Management Nicole Sakraida attributes the college’s success to intentional efforts to improve accessibility and student outcomes. “We’ve done a lot of work around changes to course schedules that allow students to more easily select the classes they need. These efforts are helping students take more credits and complete their courses, which supports their long-term success.”
When President Weber joined RCC in the summer of 2022, the college committed to improving student success through innovative strategies and community engagement. It quickly rallied around initiatives such as hosting open houses, enhancing high school outreach, expanding early registration campaigns and reducing barriers to enrollment through an improved placement process.
Key strategies have also included implementing early alert systems to identify and support students at risk, refining course schedules to improve FTE and offering programs aligned with employer needs to strengthen the workforce pipeline.
“Our recent successes are also a result, in part, of us working closely with K-12 partners in Jackson and Josephine counties to improve the college-going culture for high school students and building strategies to engage more adult learners in our community,” added Weber. “By partnering with Southern Oregon University and local industries, we are creating opportunities that lead to better outcomes for our students and our region.”
RCC’s initiatives continue to support its mission of enhancing the quality of life in its communities by providing accessible, exemplary educational opportunities for student success and economic development.
For more information about Rogue Community College, visit roguecc.edu.
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For general media inquiries or to schedule an interview with RCC staff, please contact Director, Marketing & Communications/PIO Kelly Gonzales at 541-955-7525, kgonzales@roguecc.edu.